Some People are not Smart... Or rather: Smart People are not Some

It is only natural that people who read, "Some people are not smart" to take it to mean that certain people lack the characteristic of smartness*. However, it can also be read to mean that smartness cannot apply to some people, that is to say, it must apply to all people or to none.

That is exactly what my view is. Whatever 'smart' means, it applies to everyone equally. To date, no one has agreed to me, much to my chagrin. Hopefully that will change, if and when people read this.

Alexiphanes: What does it mean to be smart, that is, to have the characteristic of smartness?

Akakios: A certain state of being, where one is mentally capable.

Alexiphanes: So this state would depend on many things?

Akakios: Oh yes, many things, such as diet, or tiredness, or emotional state. . .

Alexiphanes: If one's degree of smartness is affected by these things, then surely it must pre-exist independently to be affected.

Akakios: Well, I should agree that it is an intrinsic quality, one not dependent on any other.

Alexiphanes: So these things are not foundational for smartness; it pre-existed them and is merely modified.

Akakios: Absolutely.

Alexiphanes: And can other mental characteristics affect smartness?

Akakios: I imagine they would.

Alexiphanes: Such as attitude, or interest?

Akakios: I don't see how attitude would affect the degree to which someone is smart, merely the application of it.

Alexiphanes: Well that is exactly it, I should think: If an individual were to suddenly acquire a car, which is red, and of a certain make and model, then that individual would experience a phenomenon whereas they begin to see other red cars, or of that make and model, everywhere they go.

Akakios: I've experienced that myself.

Alexiphanes: Likewise, when an individual has bias within an issue, suppose they are of a minority, they then discover that issue everywhere they go. However, on issues of which they have no opinion or interest, regardless of how polluted their environment is with instances, they barely register notice.

Akakios: I cannot say I've experienced that, however. . .

Alexiphanes: Naturally not, as before now, it has never been an issue which your attention was drawn to. However, now that you are driving a brand new vehicle of the Make: Smart and Model: Interest, you will begin to see clearly, those around you that ignore or respond to issues, and in which fashion or mannner.


*Please note that I use smart and smartness particularly as their common usage suits my message and meaning while fulfilling accuracy. I would use intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, cognizance, or so on if I desired greater precision.