Sec. 8 / Grp. 3 - Philthy Philosophers: Group Article

Our group article is on intelligence; our goal is to analyze what the term consists of. 
My contribution to our group focuses on how pattern recognition enhances intelligence, allowing us to make predictions/projections (prospective).

     Here, I define intelligence on a scale of pattern recognition- the ability to understand and identify regularities from sources of data, establish a pattern of consistency through isolated criteria, and filter the irregularities of data that do not fit within the isolated criteria. 
   
     We use this "mechanistic" style of intelligence to gather information about the environment. Humans- compared to primitive life-forms- have developed the ability to further identify complexity within patterns. For example, suppose we are given a scrambled puzzle. To make any progress, we need to understand how each piece fits together. You may notice the piece with 2 flat edges creates an "L" and must belong in the corner. Maybe you know this because you have only 4 pieces that meet this criteria, and there can only be 4 corners in a square puzzle. This is an act of pattern recognition: Identifying data about the puzzle through a visual source of information, establishing a pattern of consistency through "L" shaped pieces, and distinguishing the irregularities of data that do not fit within this criterion.

     As pattern recognition increases from person to person, so does their categorization of data into separate groups. If someone is sorting food by shape, they may categorize all round objects, accordingly. However, if someone knows which spherical-shaped food is a fruit or a vegetable, this will add 2 more categories to their method of filtration. Furthermore, if someone recognizes a difference in texture, they may classify each spherically-shaped fruit and vegetable as smooth, rough, or prickly.

     The prospective use of pattern recognition allows us to make predictions about future events. We are able to make forecasts about the weather, celestial movements, and even fashion trends due to this fact. Once we understand enough about a subject, not only can we replicate it: We can improve it. The ability to make these predictions is what defines our level of intelligence.