Do you believe that intelligence is an innate or learned trait? Why? Add your opinion BEFORE READING, then indicate if it changed or not and why POST READING! by Meg Geronimos

27parsais — 2025-09-18 12:42:51 UTC

Some people have genetics that predispose them to be adept at critical thinking, but the skill needs to be fostered to actually be of use. If you don't make an effort to become intelligent and knowledgeable, you won't be. Like how you can be genetically coded to be tall, but can stay short due to malnourishment.

26elmaghrabiz — 2025-09-18 12:43:26 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait- I feel as though intelligence is the effort to understand questions that you haven't yet answered yourself. Everyone is smart, and can be smarter; I think that differing factors, like attention span and interest, can affect how someone learns in order to become more intelligent.

26akoussanu — 2025-09-18 12:43:31 UTC

I believe intelligence is a learned trait because it encompasses everything you know, whether acquired in class or through life experiences.

By the queen uzziel

26chhetrid — 2025-09-18 12:43:35 UTC

I believe that it is a learned trait because experiences throughout life allow you to not only learn from mistakes but also grow as an individual while navigating obstacles.

27kaecherd — 2025-09-18 12:43:40 UTC

I feel like its a little bit of both because you can have little kids that are super smart and move up in school fast. At the same time you can get someone who when they were younger weren't that smart but worked super hard to get the intelligence they have in life.

26sakelyg — 2025-09-18 12:43:55 UTC

I think it is just like you muscles, some people are born with great genetic but other must train everyday to look the same. I believe it is the same with the mind and intelligence.

27maiersj — 2025-09-18 12:44:00 UTC

Intelligence is innate to a point. I believe that nature simply gives us a sense of intelligence with the general world. But I think it can also go the other direction, with intelligence being something that you can learn from other people as you grow up.

26sharmak — 2025-09-18 12:44:05 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait because you learn and get knowledge from somewhere else such as school and experience.

26bowenm — 2025-09-18 12:44:51 UTC

Kenzie Bowen - I think intelligence is a learned trait because, as a child, you only have your thoughts, but are taught everything you know based on experiences, the peers around you, and from reading/listening.

26bhandarir — 2025-09-18 12:44:59 UTC

Intelligence has never been innate. Even in the theory of evolution, intelligence is not a factor of fitness. Intelligence is a learned trait that is gathered throughout the expanse of one's life.

26bistar1 — 2025-09-18 12:45:07 UTC

I think that intelligence is a learned trait because you are not naturally born intelligent, instead you gain that knowledge through learning at school and gaining experiences throughout your life.

26fausta — 2025-09-18 12:45:11 UTC

i believe that intelligence is a learned trait in most aspects other than the fact of what interests you. If you like sports and don't read or write with passion and have no interest in that aspect i feel like having that level of intelligence would be different to someone who constantly reads or uses their academics to their greatest extent

26khatiwadaa — 2025-09-18 12:45:15 UTC

I think that intelligence is innate in terms of cognitive ability and pattern recognition because some people are just born with the ability to memorize things and recognize things quickly. However, I also think that people who aren't born with it can be intelligent in other ways or through practice and experience. In addition, all of this depends on how you define intelligence-- I think intelligence is cognitive ability and how you process information. People who put in the work to be intelligent might not always end up intelligent, but they could be knowledgeable and wise.

27scarpacia — 2025-09-18 12:45:22 UTC

I think that intelligence is a learned trait. A parent or guardian instills the importance of school and learning from a young age allowing their kids to pick up those characteristics. If the guardian makes school out to be a lesser priority, a child will not make it a point to try their hardest in school. Thus, the child will not become as intelligent as those who put their focus into the work.

26pageo — 2025-09-18 12:45:41 UTC

I think intelligence can be both. While you may get traits from your parents that help with intelligence, which may make it easier to learn, you can always work harder to get a better intelligence by studying and teaching yourself.

26campionk — 2025-09-18 12:45:46 UTC

I believe that intelligence is more strongly a learned trait. Experiences, failures, heartbreak, mistakes, triumphs, and successes shape a person's personality and the way they think about life. There is something to say about firsthand experiences in a person's life. These experiences typically teach you valuable lessons and prepare you for future situations. ~Kelly

26fernandezn — 2025-09-18 12:45:55 UTC

Intelligence could be passed down from person to person genetically but I also believe that intelligence could be learned depending on the person. Obviously book smarts is just something learned in school but other smarts are learned through experience most of the time rather than being passed down. We're born with a general intelligence but its our business to further it regardless of inherited trait or learned.

26valentem — 2025-09-18 12:45:56 UTC

I believe that intelligence can be an innate trait, as there has to be some baseline for each individual's IQ. However, I also think that intelligence can grow and flourish over time, depending on the environment and/or circumstances of a person's education.

26ghalleys — 2025-09-18 12:46:05 UTC

Although genetics can determine an individual's intelligence and cognitive skills since some people are simply naturally gifted. I believe that you can still become intelligent and get smarter over time, the present is not an indication determining your future. For instance, someone may not be that smart as of right now, however if they begin studying and learning more, they progressively become more intelligent over time.

26nowickib — 2025-09-18 12:46:12 UTC

I believe it is more of a learned trait because intelligence stems from studying and learning, and that cannot be done genetically. You must put forth the effort to learn things in order to gain intelligence and knowledge. In your life you gain most of your knowledge and intelligence based on experiences or facts you have learned, which means to gain intelligence, you have to navigate through your own life.

Bryce

26ottj — 2025-09-18 12:46:22 UTC

I think that intelligence is a learned trait because when kids are young teachers need to teach them how to do basic skills, like how to use scissors. If intelligence was an innate trait everyone would be born knowing how to use and do everything. Even the smartest people in the world have learned and still can learn things.

2025-09-18 12:46:34 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait because you could have a smart kid but he wouldn't know lots of stuff until you taught him that stuff. I think genetics plays a part too as a smarter kid will learn faster than a dumber kid but both wouldn't know the topic until its taught.

27sutam — 2025-09-18 12:46:40 UTC

I think intelligence its a learned trait because you learn a lot throughout your life, and as you get older, you can learn so much new things that you just cannot get on birth, like things you learn in school. Even though I feel like some kids are more gifted than others.

26laduukj — 2025-09-18 12:46:43 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait because people learned as they are growing up from experiences a different event in life, which they can learn from and learn to think for the future including knowledge as well, people learned from school.

26sayc — 2025-09-18 12:46:51 UTC

I believe that intelligence is innate. Everyone is born with different intelligence levels and has different ways of viewing things. However, you can put in the effort and work to be intelligent. For example, some students are naturally smart without having the need to study or put in the effort, while other students who aren't as intelligent have to study ten times more and put in way more effort to get on the same level.

27reichlj — 2025-09-18 12:48:16 UTC

Intelligence is fostered as an innate trait from birth; many people genetically have more potential in the development of their cognitive skills, but it really depends on the environment that you are raised in and the work and effort you put forward to develop those cognitive skills.

26sakelyg — 2025-09-18 13:25:14 UTC

I believe that what I said still stands true because those men could have been born genetically smart but since they did not have the resources to advance their knowledge they did not grow, much like a bodybuilder who does not have access to a gym.

26fausta — 2025-09-18 13:26:05 UTC

i still think that intelligence is a learned trait, even in the reading after seeing the shadows he still had that experience to share with others as the knowledge that he took so they could also benefit from it, whether or not they chose to believe him. My opinion did not change because even though people may be born of higher intelligence it takes you and the will to want to be able to learn and get through life.

26elmaghrabiz — 2025-09-18 13:26:12 UTC

Intelligence is most certainly a learned trait; marked by the willingness to be susceptible and accept the truth when it is revealed to you. Intelligence isn't gifted by chance, its based upon the willingness to explore the possibility of information. Knowledge gifts you so many traits, moral standards, empathy, righteousness, and resilience.

27kaecherd — 2025-09-18 13:27:02 UTC

I feel you can be born smart but without having the education or resources to further expand your knowledge you will reach sort of a cap. To further expand your knowledge you would need to learn new skills and ways to think.

26ottj — 2025-09-18 13:27:06 UTC

I believe that intelligence is still a learned trait because if you are not exposed to the idea of intelligence, you are compared to someone else who has more knowledge. Although some might not want to learn and obtain intelligence, it is still a trait that you need to work at and spend time on to better yourself at it.

26fernandezn — 2025-09-18 13:27:08 UTC

I still believe intelligence could be passed down from person to person but I also believe it was learned. Why did the prisoner decide to get up and walk and leave that was his personal knowledge and he then learned what the outside world was the sun the water and etc but he originally stood and walked because of his own accord because of his own knowledge and then learned a it. Like Plato kinda referred to there was always that door there but he took the step to turn the knob and open it.

26bhandarir — 2025-09-18 13:27:08 UTC

Yes, I still believe intelligence is learned because even in the story, the man had to witness truth by himself. It is a given that he did not know anything other than shadow at the beginning, but he came to learn that there was more.

27parsais — 2025-09-18 13:27:10 UTC

The reading only emphasized the idea that having access to information and the ability to process it is essential to intelligence. All the men had the baseline ability to think and understand, but were trapped in a lesser level of understanding due to their inability to see anything besides the cave.

26pageo — 2025-09-18 13:27:15 UTC

I still agree with what I said previously. Intelligence can be inherited to an extent, but you still have to explore and want to learn to keep your intelligence going up.

2025-09-18 13:27:19 UTC

I still believe intelligence is learned. The Man in the cave only learned about the outside world once he was shown it. This goes the same way for people today.

26khatiwadaa — 2025-09-18 13:27:41 UTC

I think what I said before was true in terms of my own definition of intelligence, but if I change it so that intelligence and knowledge are interchangeable, then I would say that intelligence is a learned trait. You can see it in politics today- people who do not care for it at all might somehow walk into or see something that was impacted by politics, and they could gain knowledge from that. Afterwards, they would be hungry for more knowledge on the topic and others similar to it.

27sutam — 2025-09-18 13:27:44 UTC

I think intelligence is more learned because, like in the cave, the men thought the shadows were what reality was until one guy got dragged out and experienced and learned for himself that there is more.

26bowenm — 2025-09-18 13:28:27 UTC

Intelligence is a learned trait that helps develop one's identity, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, and furthers one's progress in society. Through knowledge and truth that is gained through education, experience, and peers throughout one's lifetime.

26akoussanu — 2025-09-18 13:28:31 UTC

I still agree with what I said earlier. I believe intelligence is a learned trait because the 2 other men in the cave weren't willing to educate themselves, stopping themselves from learning about new things they had never seen.

26sharmak — 2025-09-18 13:28:39 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is a learned trait. Although people can get intelligence through genetics, you need to know how to use it. We can see in article that not everyone wanted to gain that knowledge and truth.

26ghalleys — 2025-09-18 13:28:50 UTC

My opinion still remains the same. I believe that although genetics can be a key factor in an individual's intelligence since good intellectual genetics from your parents most likely means you will also be intelligent. However, intelligence is definitely a learned trait, you could do several different things to increase and expand your knowledge and cognitive abilities such as studying, researching, debating, and more. All of these help strengthen and build an individual's intelligence.

26campionk — 2025-09-18 13:28:51 UTC

I still believe that knowledge is a learned trait, especially after reading "The Myth of the Cave." Everyone has the potential to run their mind and become more educated. It just depends on whether a person chooses to activate that drive of wanting to know more in their head.

26chhetrid — 2025-09-18 13:28:54 UTC

My opinion on intelligence being achieved through life still stands, as the experiences and obstacles allow one to understand and learn true reality. Although some may be born with genes that make them smarter, there is no point in having that attribute if one can not utilize it or strengthen it.

27maiersj — 2025-09-18 13:28:58 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is innate; everyone has some level of general knowledge without a guide or way of learning. No matter how you grow up, nature will automatically give you the basic understanding of life. But I do believe that everyone does gain a large portion of the knowledge they have obtained at hte end of their lives from the people in their lives.

26sayc — 2025-09-18 13:29:25 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait, but it highly depends on how much work you put in to achieve a given amount of intelligence. You learn new things throughout your entire life, and you could use this information to benefit yourself, or you could choose to ignore it.

26nowickib — 2025-09-18 13:29:54 UTC

After reading "The Myth of the Cave", I am even more convinced and certain that intelligence is a trait learned by yourself. To go outside and experience new things and gain more knowledge and understanding is not inherited it is learned. So this reading just further solidified that knowledge is learned and the ability to gain intelligence stems from what we want to explore.

26laduukj — 2025-09-18 13:29:55 UTC

I still believe that it is a learned trait because men in the cave have the ability to learn what is outside in the world if they were willing to do so. They may be born with a good brain or not but without wanting to learn the knowledge does not really reflect any intelligence in them.

26valentem — 2025-09-18 13:30:22 UTC

I still agree with my previous statement, arguing that intelligence is both innate and can be grown upon. The only difference in my idea is that I now believe someone more educated, even though they may not be as automatically gifted, would have better self-awareness and knowledge than someone with a high IQ. It is very important in our society not to become disillusioned and to continue the absorption of knowledge throughout life, as the prisoners in the cave did not want to believe the escapee simply because he disagreed with their obscured reality.

26bistar1 — 2025-09-18 13:30:25 UTC

I still believe that intellegience is something that is gain and not inheritable. The article supports my opinion becasue if those prisioners were born "smart", then they would not have believed the puppets were the real thing and instead would know they were shadows casted. Since they were not born smart, they needed to see the truth behind the puppets, just as the one of the men did to develop knowledge and to uncover the truth.

27reichlj — 2025-09-18 13:30:35 UTC

I disagree with what I initially said; I now believe that intelligence is solely an acquired trait. The story introduces characters who are unable to mentally grasp the truth of their situation. Despite these characters being slightly underdeveloped, this logic still applies to even the smartest individuals. Intelligence is decided by public definition because even higher-minded individuals could have built their working knowledge on statements that are false.

27scarpacia — 2025-09-18 13:31:30 UTC

I do still believe that intelligence is learned. People could be naturally intelligent, but that is only shown if the person is exposed to the world of learning. If a person does not know or learn any better, then they have no way of advancing in society or knowledge. The man in the cave would not have known any better if he had not seen everything with his own eyes. Even if he was deemed intelligent before seeing the sun, he was only intellectual with the capacity of what he was shown. The other men that did not believe the man were not dumb; they were not shown that side of the world. So, they could not expand their intelligence. Intelligence is learned a and needed to be taught in order to advance.

26goel — 2025-09-19 12:42:27 UTC

intelligence, i think, is an innate property. Throughout one's life they may gain knowledge, whether they are intelligent or not, but knowledge is not the same as intelligence. - Laila Noelle Goe

26ovitskyl — 2025-09-19 12:44:12 UTC

I believe that intelligence is an innate trait. Intelligence is more about being able to learn, solve problems, and use your knowledge rather than just how much knowledge you have. - Lucas Ovitsky

2025-09-19 12:44:30 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait. Although some people are capable at picking up certain skills, talents, and ideas better than others, people do acquire knowledge differently and interpret it differently which makes them more intelligent in some fields or areas when compared to others, however this does not make them "smarter" or "more intelligent" in actual life.

26maracicl — 2025-09-19 12:44:39 UTC

I think that intelligence is, in different regards, both an innate and a learned trait. There is some aspect of genetics that can make a person more adept at understanding certain things without necessarily learning how to do that. However, there is certainly a part of it that can be learned - if you constantly set out to learn and understand new things, you will get better at it, and when you do, I would say that you gain intelligence.

2025-09-19 12:44:49 UTC

I believe intelligence is a learned trait because throughout your life, you learn more about yourself and the world around you-- whether it be from experience or from class.

- Ashmita Guragai

2025-09-19 12:45:10 UTC

Intelligence is an innate trait because IQ is genetic but it can also be affected by ones environment. I think people can become more intelligent as they grow and learn more. So overall, I think it can be both depending on the person and if they want to learn or not.

26kuchb — 2025-09-19 12:45:16 UTC

I think it is a learned trait becuase you need to learn from experiences to become intelligent, but if you do not have any experiences, it is impossible for you to learn from them, so it has to be learned and not innate.

2025-09-19 12:45:19 UTC

I believe intelligence is an innate trait given at birth. However, like many other traits, such as athleticism. It can still be trained/improved upon. If someone was born extremely gifted, but never had the opportunity to challenge themselves, then someone who may not be as naturally talented could be more intelligent.

27raia1 — 2025-09-19 12:45:20 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait. I believe that if you put effort and time into learning, you can be called intelligent. Because you've put so much time into learning whatever it is you're learning that you're good at it.

26morellin — 2025-09-19 12:45:21 UTC

Intelligence is a learned trait because you are born barely knowing a thing, but once you get experience in life and try to accomplish tasks, you become more able and intelligent. I believe anybody can be intelligent if they follow the correct steps to gain knowledge.

2025-09-19 12:45:40 UTC

Emmett Williams-

I believe intelligence is learned throughout one's life, but is developed as a child. Depending on the situations the child is put into, the information the parents give to the child, and even what toys they play with, will strongly influence the child's intellectual ability. Even so, intelligence is gained throughout one's life, but just as it is easier to learn a language at a young age, it is easier to develop intelligence at a young age.

26powelle2 — 2025-09-19 12:45:49 UTC

I think it can be both. People are born with varying levels of intelligence, but it can be enhanced with study. You can read and study different things and become wiser. Yes, someone may have to work harder compared to someone else to truly enhance their intelligence, but nonetheless it can be done.

26turzakt — 2025-09-19 12:45:50 UTC

Ultimately intelligence is a learned trait. Your birth can affect your capacity to have more intellect, however you can be born in the best of circumstances and if you live your life in ignorance or you choose to do things you know will kill your brain cells, then you will lose that intelligence. If intelligence is inherited through birth then you wouldn't have people born in perfect health who end up choosing to make the dumbest decisions they can make.

27cormierl — 2025-09-19 12:45:53 UTC

I believe that intelligence is an innate trait. You can accumulate different types of knowledge and learning tactics to maximize the effect of your intelligence, but the rate at which you learn these tactics and knowledge is going to be dependant on your natural potential.

27doddl — 2025-09-19 12:46:03 UTC

I think Intelligence could be both at times. There will always be someone who just naturally remembers more and could be called intelligent, but there will also be others who have a great work ethic and work to be intelligent. I think they both count as even if you have a great memory and are gifted at learning, but you dont try, then does it really matter.

26timsinar — 2025-09-19 12:46:13 UTC

I think that intelligence is something that you learn rather than being born with. Anything can be learned through practice and dedication. I think that it depends on how dedicated a person is to gaining knowledge.

26skalosv — 2025-09-19 12:46:19 UTC

I think that intelligence is an innate property. I believe that throughout life, and as you go through things like school, you gain more knowledge, some of it could be intelligence, but not all of it could be. Every person is born with intelligence; everyone is just at different levels, but it's up to you to take that extra step to get more intelligent if you would like.

2025-09-19 12:46:23 UTC

I believe that intelligence is an learned trait because throughout your life you learn a lot of lesson and teachings. In life itself we learn from our mistakes and we learn to delevop and understand better. Which is why intelligence is a learned trait this even goes for education.

2025-09-19 12:46:57 UTC

Intelligence in general is a learned trait. You're not born with all the knowledge you have now; you develop it over time and add to what you know. Now, there are things that some people are better at than others, and will know and be able to learn more about. It's all about interest and what we can understand.

Olivia O'Malley

2025-09-19 12:47:01 UTC

I believe that it is a combination of innate and learned intelligence. You have instincts that help you know what to do and not to do, but more complex things must be learned. You can have a high IQ but still be unintelligent, or you may have a low IQ and be incredibly intelligent. Some people are able to grasp things at a quicker rate than others and that is based on their innate intelligence. - Zachary Pryke

27millert3 — 2025-09-19 12:47:09 UTC

Intelligence is an innate trait because some people are inherently more intelligent than others. This does not mean that you get to learn things that can boost your intelligence. Someone may understand concepts more easily or manage certain mind puzzles more easily than others, and that stuff you may not be able to learn.

26tortoretic — 2025-09-19 12:47:55 UTC

I believe that intelligence is an innate trait. I think that some intelligence can be learned through education but your general level you are born with. Some children grow up struggling and do not have the resources to learn new things, but they can still be very intelligent and make it very far because they were born with it.

27pracelk — 2025-09-19 12:48:32 UTC

Intelligence is both an innate and learned trait. In some cases, people naturally understand certain concepts or subjects more easily. In other cases, people gradually accumulate knowledge of a subject or concept and gain a deeper understanding of it as they learn more about it, thus developing a learned trait as well.

27greenek — 2025-09-19 12:50:12 UTC

I believe that intelligence can be both an innate and a learned trait, but leans more toward the learned trait. A child can be born with a higher IQ than others and can be able to absorb more knowledge than an average kid, though that may not always be a good thing. For the learning trait, depending on the environment or the resources you may have, it is possible for you to grasp more information on a concept than others.

26hebibd — 2025-09-19 12:50:31 UTC

I think that intelligence is a learned trait; people who are born with it still have to learn things in life and don't know it all. Intelligence can come in many different forms, like emotional intelligence, logical, spiritual, existential, and more. There are layers to intelligence that make it something for everyone to learn more about. Intelligence is learned, and everyone needs things to boost their intelligence in certain ways.

2025-09-19 12:51:23 UTC

I think that intelligence is an innate trait. Although I believe that people can gain knowledge through school and other activities, some people will naturally understand and digest content better than others.

2025-09-19 12:54:10 UTC

I believe intelligence is not just something we’re born with, it’s a learned trait that develops over time. While a person’s IQ may be genetically influenced and predetermined at birth, the choices we make throughout life directly shape how that intelligence is expressed and maintained. For example, I strongly believe in the distinction between “book smarts” and “street smarts.” A person may excel academically but still struggle with basic survival instincts or social awareness, making them less effective in the real world. Natural aptitude gives some people an advantage, but without effort and practice, it will fade.

2025-09-19 13:29:26 UTC

I have not changed my mind about intelligence being both innate and learned. Some do not want to learn new things, so they stop thinking and refuse any good evidence. This is shown in flat earthers and how no matter what evidence is shown to them, most refute it and keep thinking the earth is flat. If no one could learn to be smarter than they were, the world would be full of stupidity. You can become more intelligent depending on the information you have.

2025-09-19 13:30:09 UTC

I still believe intelligence is learned as it is easy to be fooled or not use what we know in earlier stages of our lives, but as we grow and develop skills and our intelligence we get better at navigating our lives and handling situations.

2025-09-19 13:30:18 UTC

I still think intelligence is a learned trait because. People do not wanna learn new things which can affect them. While people that learn new things with their knowledge they can achieve anything.

27raia1 — 2025-09-19 13:30:35 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is learned. My opinion hasn't changed because it truly is your own choice if you want to be intelligent or not. The story further helped me understand my own opinion because of the other people who chose not to believe the guy that saw the real world.

26goel — 2025-09-19 13:30:36 UTC

I still think that intelligence is innate. Intelligence is the ability to think deeply about what you learn and apply that knowledge elsewhere, but some people will simply never even have a want to learn or never be able to apply that knowledge because they are not naturally intelligent.

27doddl — 2025-09-19 13:30:53 UTC

I still think it has components of both, as it takes someone naturally gifted to comprehend the new things, as well as someone willing to go out of the cave and see the new stuff. The people inside the cave are just as smart as the one who left it is but they dont have the belief or motivation to go look.

26powelle2 — 2025-09-19 13:31:09 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is something that is learned. Everybody has to ability to go out and challenge themselves. Challenge themselves to become more intelligent. But it's not an easy task. You have to turn away from your own reality and face the true reality. It takes strength, dedication, and an open mind to do that. Those are not easy things to obtain. But nonetheless, it is always possible.

26turzakt — 2025-09-19 13:31:35 UTC

My opinion did not change intelligence is still learned. I believe that anyone can display any great amount of ignorance towards the truth. The Myth of the Cave only affirms my previous stance, A man born with the same lack of knowledge as everyone else chose to expand his thoughts while others with that same capacity hate and resent him enough to try and kill him.

26kuchb — 2025-09-19 13:31:49 UTC

I still think that intelligence is a learned trait becuase in the story, the 3 people did not know what was outside the cave when they were born, they only knew the shadows, but when the one leaves the cave, he gains knowledge that he wasn't born with, proving that it is a learned trait.

27millert3 — 2025-09-19 13:31:51 UTC

I think it is a learned trait. People are born with a certain intelligence, but people can still learn new things. The people in the cave learned that there was a world outside, but they didn't believe it. This shows that they don't want to learn new things and therefore retain the same knowledge they had when they were born. The guy who left the cage learned something new because he chose to accept it, but he didn't have to.

2025-09-19 13:31:52 UTC

My opinion that intelligence is learned, not given, has not changed. Plato's myth of the cave has only strengthened my belief that through someone's life experiences, people grow more intelligent. The man was brought out of the cave and grew more understanding of the world as an adult, not before they were born. My previous statement about learning intelligence as a child also still stands.

26ovitskyl — 2025-09-19 13:32:00 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is innate because the escapee had the innate capability to be curious and go outside. The other people would not have gone outside even if they could because they were too stupid to wonder about the world. - Lucas Ovitsky

26maracicl — 2025-09-19 13:32:02 UTC

My opinion has not changed; I still believe that intelligence is both learned and innate. Plato's Allegory of the Cave makes a strong point about learned intelligence that I agree with - it is learned in large part by one's interaction with reality. I still believe it is partly innate, however, as I think it takes a certain type of person to not be repulsed by the initially hostile environment the sunlight creates for the prisoners.

27cormierl — 2025-09-19 13:32:03 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is innate, and I feel that if we are all like the prisoners in the parable, it is our intelligence that guides us to knowledge. The prisoner did not see the outside world for himself because of his own motivations to pursue knowledge. He was forced out by someone outside the cave, and I believe that person shows that some people are only motivated to pursue knowledge by their innate intelligence

2025-09-19 13:32:11 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is mainly innate, but also can be developed and learned. In my opinion, the story just demonstrated how intelligence is relative to the situation you are in. So, overall while intelligince is mainly inherited, it can still by affected by your circumstances.

2025-09-19 13:32:16 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is learned, but not only what you are taught, but also what you experience, and that is what sets what you know apart from others, because no person has the same experience as another.

2025-09-19 13:32:21 UTC

I still think intelligence is more innate than learned. Plato believed intelligence is rooted in innate potential, but developing it relies on learning and education, and I agree with that. In today's time, I think fewer and fewer people are willing to learn, and that's why intelligence is perceived as more innate because of the lack of understanding

27pracelk — 2025-09-19 13:32:28 UTC

I believe that it is a learned trait. People choose to learn or discover new things. You can't force someone to learn something new. It is all about their decision and their desire for knowledge. If they choose to live in a false reality rather than accepting the facts, then they'll be less intelligent than those who choose to expand themselves and seek more knowledge.

26hebibd — 2025-09-19 13:32:33 UTC

I still believe that it is a learned trait since these prisoners lived their whole lives in the unknown. They never got to know what it was like outside and the things that are out there in the world. They were used to and comfortable with the life they lived and they had now knowledge of the outside so it never made them strive to know what else there is in the world. Whenever the one man saw the sun and was amazed by that, he learned that theres an existence outside of their cell and when he went to report back they called him crazy because they didnt knowt they never got the chance to learn but the person who did can never unlearn that.

26timsinar — 2025-09-19 13:32:47 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is something that can be learned when it is desired to be learned. In the story, the prisoner wanted to go out and explore, which led him to find more than he knew about the world. He found out a reality different from what he knew, all because of curiosity. The other prisoners did not believe him because they did not want to. Intelligence is something that a person needs to dedicate themselves to learning and respect, which the other prisoners lacked.

26tortoretic — 2025-09-19 13:33:01 UTC

I do still think that your basic level of intelligence is innate but there is a lot of intelligence that you can gain. The men in the cave were still born with intelligence based on the only world around them that they knew. They can still learn knowledge if they explore outside of the cave, but they had to be born with the intelligence they had because they had nothing to teach them.

26skalosv — 2025-09-19 13:33:13 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is innate. Truly intelligence is your ability to put the knowledge you know and put it somewhere where it can help. Again it just depends if you want to take that extra step to become more intelligent but everyone has intelligence it just depends on how you use it and if you would want to gain more of it or not, but in the end it's all up to you.

27greenek — 2025-09-19 13:33:16 UTC

I still believe that intelligence leans more towards a learned trait. Knowledge isn't always about having a better education than others, but it shows how you view yourself, develop opinions, and understand your emotions. When you learn new concepts, you have a better view of reality, no matter how important it is, instead of living in ignorance.

26morellin — 2025-09-19 13:33:39 UTC

Intelligence is definitely a learned trait because the prisoner that was willing to leave the cave and reach enlightenment learned the true reality giving him the ability to gain knowledge and become intelligent. But, the prisoners who wanted to stay in the cave and watch the shadows because that is all they knew shows that they could not accept reality or change. This refusal shows that people who do not want to comprehend other ideas because of their own will, will not gain intelligence because they do not want to believe in it.

2025-09-19 13:33:44 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is innate, but it is up to individuals to determine if they want to expand on their knowledge and be resilient, or if they refuse to learn and push outside of their comfort zone. Ultimately, the environment one grows up in and the standards they set for themselves determine their intelligence.

2025-09-19 13:35:30 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is a learned trait. However, now I support the idea that it is more centered around a person's life experiences, rather than simply studying at school. Like the scenario with the cave, the man who freed himself and left the cave became enlightened to how the world actually worked, he became smarter because he was able to observe the world on his own, while the others chain were not. That does not make the remaining prisoners any more or less intelligent, they simply have to explore the world for themselves and experience it before they can reach the same enlightenment as the escaped man.

2025-09-19 13:38:28 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is something that is learned. You can either have so much or so little, but it's the individual who can experience and expand from their own reality that makes them intelligent. One chained-prisoner from the cave thought his reality was light and shadows, but after seeing what the world really was, he learned that his reality was not a reality in what the world is. It contrasts with the other men in the cave because they didn't experience; they did not want to learn when they were told of the actual reality of their world. That reflects our real world, and the problem of ignorance. Some are stuck in their own bubble, stuck in what they believe in, stuck in their way of life--because they just don't know; because they've never experienced it.

26shurem — 2025-09-19 15:22:33 UTC

I think intellignece is mostly learned I think because I think almost all of your traits that arent physical like appearances, are learned but I do think that genetics do play a part in intelligence more like the amount you can learn is sometimes a genetic factor, think of like a sponge and the size is the genetic factor, the water is knowledge and the bigger the sponge the more water it can hold. but I do think that you can increase the size of the sponge by growing mentally and physically, I don't know if there is a limit to intelligence because even if your really smart you can still learn stuff.

2025-09-19 15:22:44 UTC

Intelligence is a learned trait because we are not born with it; we develop it as we grow. We are only born with gene/phenotype material, like eye color or the inheritance of a disease. Intelligence requires skills that are not predetermined in our brains before we are born.

27waldoe — 2025-09-19 15:22:59 UTC

I think intelligence is learned because it takes time to process received knowledge from peers and other people. This knowledge is then stored somewhere in our bodies so that it can be used at a certain time.

26hamptona — 2025-09-19 15:23:03 UTC

I believe that intelligence is learned. No matter how high someone's natural IQ is, if they don't attempt to actually learn -- they won't be considered intelligent in comparison to another. One could have a naturally average or below average IQ but be more intelligent through reading, studying, attending classes, etc. Therefore, I believe that intelligence comes from application and without applying yourself, a naturally smart person could be less intelligent than one who puts in effort and improves themself.

2025-09-19 15:23:14 UTC

i think that intelligence is something that is learned and developed by putting in a lot of work and studying. the educational choices that we make throughout years of school determine the intelligence you have. if you continuously do school work and extra activities, you will gain more intelligence than other people that dont go the extra mile.

2025-09-19 15:23:16 UTC

I think that intelligence is something that is innate. I think this because some people have an easier time learning material. for example, some people have photographic memory. That is not learned, it is inherent. Another example are things like ADHD. Kids with adhd have a harder time understanding things because they cannot focus. While other students are able to comprehend material much quicker

2025-09-19 15:24:47 UTC

In my opinion, I think intelligence is a learned trait that you receive over time. Some people pick up on things easier than others but it all comes down to the motivation of the individual. You have to work towards it, shown through the decisions we make in life, to develop an intelligence that is unique to you. While genetics play a big role in the way a person is, most traits are learned overtime through observation. You are not born kind, you show kindness through your actions throughout your life.

2025-09-19 15:24:59 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait because knowledge can be acquired throughout one's life, but one cannot automatically be smart from birth. The choices made throughout life make up how intelligence is shown or maintained. While some people can comprehend some knowledge more easily than others, that does not determine your level of intelligence.

2025-09-19 15:25:09 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait because you can't automatically just come out of the womb and be educated on anything. Throughout life you learn things everyday, whether it's in school, or just from being around your family and friends. Some people can naturally be smart where it's easier for them to understand things but I don't think you can naturally be intelligent.

2025-09-19 15:25:13 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait. When babies are born, they are not very smart. They have the capability to be smart, but that still doesn't make them smart. What matters is the circumstances they grow up with. If their parents are encouraging their studies, they may learn to be more intelligent. However, if their life doesn't have that same privilege, they may grow up to not be as intelligent as they could have been. Some people may have the genetics to potentially be smarter than others, but overall what will matter is the way they grow up.

2025-09-19 15:25:18 UTC

I believe that intelligence can be inherited through genes, as well as a learned trait. You might be born and given intelligence, but it's you who decides what to do with this trait. You can choose to study and learn and gain intelligence, or allow the intelligence you were gifted to go to waste. If you also were not generally given intelligence, you might have to work harder than others, but it doesn't mean you still can't reach the same level as someone else. It's overall you who decides how this trait plays a factor in your life.

2025-09-19 15:25:25 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait because, from a young age, we are taught how the world works, and we rely on the patterns and norms that everyone understands. Through patterns, we learn to be safe, we learn not to expect anything strange, and when something is strange, we tend to view it as unsafe or weird.

2025-09-19 15:26:15 UTC

I believe that intelligence isn't something you can be born with, even though when you're born, you could genetically have a higher understanding of things or pick up on things faster. Still, the ideas and decisions we make throughout life are what shape our overall intelligence. There is someone who could be extremely academically intelligent, but then have no social or survival intelligence, and vice versa. People aren't just born being able to walk and talk; it's something we have to learn throughout life. You can't be born with knowledge; you have to be taught.

26sengj — 2025-09-19 15:26:15 UTC

I think that intelligence is a learned trait. It strengthens over time. Some people are born and can thrive in their environment more than others. However, their intelligence level could decline over time, from outside exposures.

27acharyaj — 2025-09-19 15:26:34 UTC

I believe intelligence is a learned trait. When you're born, you don't know how to communicate except by using random words. Then, as you get older, you learn language, which enhances your intelligence trait. Even in school, when your in 5th grade, you have a lower knowledge in math, but when u get to 12 grade, your intelligence grows up because your learning through school. In conclusion, your intelligence keeps growing as you grow because you're learning new stuff, which means intelligence is a learned trait.

2025-09-19 15:26:38 UTC

I believe you can be born with it and it can be learned. Some are born with natural skills, like problem solving speed or memory, but environment, education, and experiences can shape how those skills grow.

2025-09-19 15:26:41 UTC

I think intelligence is a learned trait because yes some people can be born more intelligent than others, but they aren't gonna know everything. You become more intelligent from learning things throughout your life.

26coatesm2 — 2025-09-19 15:26:58 UTC

I think intelligence is something that is developed over time because we all are intelligent in our own ways, it also depends on skill and the thinking process of the mind because someone can be more intelligent than you on something but you could be more intelligent than them on a different topic, subject, etc .

2025-09-19 15:27:30 UTC

I believe that intelligence is a learned trait because you learn throughout your years of life. You are not naturally born with intelligence; you gain knowledge and experience by learning at school, job, and in sports. As with school, intelligence goes for studying and learning to be able to excel, then just being genetically intelligent.

27schucherte — 2025-09-19 15:27:59 UTC

I believe that intelligence is acquired through learning and experience, and is something natural. When you're born, you don't already know how to do everything you know now. Everything you know up until this point has been learned from experience, like talking; you learn how to talk by experiencing others talking around you and picking up from it. But to acquire knowledge and learn that comes naturally, whether you are interested in learning or not. No matter what situation you are in or what you are experiencing, human nature is curiosity, which is natural, and with curiosity comes knowledge that you learn from it.

2025-09-19 16:09:25 UTC

I believe that knowledge is now something that is taught. Some people are complacent and willing to take the time to better themselves and learn. While others would rather be comfortable in their own shell and not be willing to enlighten themselves.

26sengj — 2025-09-19 16:09:29 UTC

I still believe intelligence is a learned trait. After reading this article, it shows how the man in the cave was enlightened by seeing new things, and he had that curiosity and drive to find out more, while the other men in the cave didn't believe him and didn't agree with what he was saying.

2025-09-19 16:09:43 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is a learned trait because you never know what is going on in life until you see more and experience more. If you get told something, you don't know if it's really true, but once you see/experience it, you gain the knowledge.

26shurem — 2025-09-19 16:09:57 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is a learned trait because in myth of the cave he is not knowledgable and after going out of the cave he is now knowledgable and it is learned it wasn't innate or else he would have known about outside the cave before he went out.

2025-09-19 16:10:17 UTC

I still believe that knowledge is learned. The characters in the cave would not have been in their situation if knowledge were innate. They would have known there was more than the cave they dwelled in. The character who explored learned this. He struggled to understand it at first, but eventually he gained a new understanding.

2025-09-19 16:10:48 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is something you learn throughout your life. You have to put an effort into improving this trait. People are ignorant to their natural abilities and don't often enhance them. They would rather stay in a comfortable place rather than be enlightened and continue to grow. You have to be motivated and work towards intelligence just how you have to work towards many diferent goals in life.

2025-09-19 16:10:50 UTC

i still believe that knowledge is aquired through learning because you gain the most knowledge through experiences and events that you had to deal with. even if u have some sort of learning disability and dont like to read, you might learn more important things just from life

27schucherte — 2025-09-19 16:10:57 UTC

I still believe that intelligence is gained naturally and learned. becuase to learn something, you naturally gain knowledge from experiencing what's around you. Like when the man was dragged out of the cave, he gained knowledge from the experience outside of the cave.

26hamptona — 2025-09-19 16:11:00 UTC

I still believe that knowledge is a learned trait. Even if you are born with the most natural talent or intelligence, disadvantages like malnutrition and housing insecurity can destroy your chances at success. Similarly, even if born with low intelligence, if you have perseverance and dedicate your life to improving (potentially with the advantage of having pre-established wealth), you can become intelligent.

2025-09-19 16:11:14 UTC

I still think that intelligence is something that is learned because I think that we are able to understand things is already inside us but we need guidance and effort to actually have intelligence. Intelligence isn't just natural but it can be developed through learning and experience.

2025-09-19 16:11:46 UTC

I still believe that is a learned trait because if you do not have access to certain knowledge, you can not obtain the same ideas or thoughts about something. For example, when the guy left the cave, her was just now obtaining the new knowledge of the outside world, and the prisoners still stuck in the cage did not believe him because they stayed ignorant of what they already knew. Intelligence is a learned trait when you allow yourself to take in the knowledge.

2025-09-19 16:11:47 UTC

I still believe that it is both. However I believe that it can be difficult to accept something completely new and altering. It seems we all have the capacity for intelligence, but what you deem is such and whether they accept it, is up to the person.

27waldoe — 2025-09-19 16:12:10 UTC

I still think that knowledge is still learned because, in the cave, he went out and gained knowledge. Then, when he went back in to tell his cave dwellers, they didn't believe because they didn't see it.

2025-09-19 16:12:12 UTC

I still believe intelligence is something that is learned and developed over time. It grows through experiences and the challenges we face. The more obstacles we overcome and the more we experience, the more our intelligence expands.

2025-09-19 16:12:19 UTC

I still believe that knowledge is a learned thing. Like I said before, babies aren't born smart, but they can become smart. It all depends on the situation they happen to be born into. If they are being encouraged, they could become more intelligent. If they are being held back, they may not live to the potential that they could have been. This article adds a new point to my argument, the fact that your mindset also plays a part in it. Some uneducated people don't want to learn. Sometimes people can struggle with learning new things. Overall, you still gain intelligence later in life, no matter what affects it.

2025-09-19 16:12:38 UTC

I think knowledge can be both, because we are shaped by our surroundings, but also, we can strive to become what we think we are because of other people. In psychology, there is a concept called Rationalization, which is when you make an excuse for something bad, and when that bad thing happens, you shift the blame to another thing. We can build our own reality, but when we are little, it is shaped for us.

27acharyaj — 2025-09-19 16:13:48 UTC

I still believe intelligence is a learned trait. In Plato's story, it talks about how one man escaped from the cave and saw the sun, the world outside, and how he gained knowledge from it. Then he went inside the cave to explain to his friends, but they just thought he had gone crazy because they didn't know the knowledge he had just gained. Therefore, intelligence is a learned trait.

2025-09-19 16:14:36 UTC

My view hasn't changed since the pre-reading, but I did learn some things from it. Knowledge forms our entire society; sociably, it's something that you can't take from someone or anyone. I still believe that it is a learned trait. Knowledge and intelligence are all focused and rounded from our experiences, decisions, or ideas. Knowledge is like a seed that grows into a flower, and the water and sunlight are experiences, decisions, ideas, and learning. We as people are the pot and the dirt, our minds. The only way that the seed can grow is if we let it.

2025-09-19 16:15:00 UTC

I do still believe knowledge can be both, but mainly a learned trait. You develop your idea of reality and beliefs from what you experience throughout your life. You only know what you have been taught, but being knowledgeable is having the ability to keep learning and accept enlightenment. You only do this by learning more.

26coatesm2 — 2025-09-19 16:15:52 UTC

intelligence is still a learned trait and something you need to develop over time or taught because your not born with it and good example of this is in the myth of the cave. where one of them escaped and saw what was above the cave, the outside world, but the other men in the cave are ignorant and believe that the shadows in the cave are their reality