Intelligence in the Indian tradition is termed integral intelligence. Which of the following is the reason for this term?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → It gives emphasis to connectivity with the social and world environment.
Option (1) It fosters generalisation, abstraction, speed and minimal moves through child rearing. — Incorrect. These skills come from child rearing in technologically advanced societies. They make up technological intelligence, the very idea the Indian view is set against.
Option (2) It gives emphasis to connectivity with the social and world environment. — Correct. The Indian view is called integral because it stresses the person's connectivity with the social and world environment. It also gives equal attention to cognitive and non-cognitive processes and joins them together.
Option (3) It treats intelligence as attributes specific to the person, without regard to culture. — Incorrect. Seeing intelligence as a trait of the person alone, apart from culture, was the view of many western theorists. The Indian view links the person to others and the world.
Option (4) It promotes personal achievement and an individualistic orientation. — Incorrect. Personal achievement and individualism mark western, technological societies. Some non-western societies value self-reflection and a collectivistic orientation instead.
NCERT (2026-27): “Intelligence in the Indian Tradition |