Intelligence vs Socioeconomic Background

1202 Words5 Pages
Have you ever known or come across a grumpy old man, bitter about how his life turned out to be so different from his dream, and who is constantly trying to convince you that his peers were more successful because they were born to parents who were wealthier or simply better connected? As the saying goes, ‘you are who you know,’ a lot of people have come to believe that success in life is achieved through knowing and networking with people who are rich or already successful. So is a person’s intelligence really more important than their socioeconomic background in order for them to be successful in life? Looking at the old man who -no doubt- argues that he was more intelligent than his more socioeconomically privileged counterparts, it seems like intelligence does not matter in the long run. However, intelligence, by definition is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. While our background may determine our success to some extent, we are a product of circumstance, and using our several types of intelligence effectively certainly ensures that we end up successful in life. Barack Obama, is a highly successful man, often addressed as the head of state or the leader of the free world. Williams (2010) describes him as “a man whose complexity and intelligence rank him among the most compelling figures in modern history” and yet his biography is lined with challenges. The man is a good example of linguistic intelligence which is a deep understanding of the meaning and order of words, displayed by many authors, translators and poets. His book Dreams From My Father which he published in 1995 served as an efficient campaign tool for his party in the 2004 presidential elections. In addition, Barack Obama’s success is also a result of interpersonal intelligence. This is the ability to understand people and relationships and is the weapon of politicians,
Open Document