Why we should think of intelligence in terms of goals, not brains
https://aeon.co/videos/why-we-should-think-of-intelligence-in-terms-of-goals-not-brains
By Luke Groskin
Intelligence is usually associated with brains, but what if that’s too narrow a definition? In a fascinating interview, biologist Michael Levin argues that intelligence is better understood as the ability to pursue goals. From individual cells to complex organisms, living systems constantly adapt to solve problems and respond to new challenges. His research even includes tadpoles that learned to see using eyes grown on their tails, showing that the brain isn’t always the only place where intelligent behaviour can emerge.
Levin’s ideas push the conversation even further, suggesting that intelligence may exist on a continuum extending beyond animals and humans. Could groups of cells, ecosystems, or even weather systems display forms of goal-directed behaviour? While some of these ideas remain speculative, they challenge long-held assumptions about what intelligence is and where we should look for it. Whether you agree or not, this thought-provoking perspective invites us to rethink one of science’s biggest questions.