Intelligence as a Multidimensional Phenomenon: Cognitive Processes and Biological Foundations

Modern theories and studies of intelligence highlight its multicomponent nature. Various scientific disciplines offer their own approaches and definitions, underscoring the absence of a universal understanding of intelligence. Theories such as Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory emphasize the diversity of cognitive abilities. Critics argue that not all aspects of intelligence can be classified as fundamental cognitive capacities; many are better described as skills or talents. This ongoing debate about the nature and measurement of intelligence remains unresolved.

Efforts to create artificial intelligence have necessitated the deconstruction of cognitive labor and the automation of specific cognitive processes. However, natural intelligence is far more profound than current AI technologies and requires not only cognitive processing but also real-world experimentation and practical experience to achieve significant scientific and societal breakthroughs. Human intelligence is not a unique phenomenon in nature. Various animal species demonstrate highly developed forms of intelligence, such as the spatial memory of the gray squirrel. This illustrates that intelligence, like other forms of cognitive activity, exists within an evolutionary ecosystem.

The proposed intelligence matrix in this study serves as a valuable tool for assessing intelligence and its components. This framework is also applicable to artificial intelligence. The development of each component occurs unevenly, depending on the tasks and context an individual encounters. It is impossible to maximize all components simultaneously, as resources and energy in any real-world system are strictly limited.