Does intelligence = "size of gun barrel," and wisdom = "knowing where to aim"?

submitted by covac from self.nonmorons

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[–]wary_observer 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

"Caliber" is a term sometimes used to describe great intellects. (Others have likened IQ to engine horsepower or CPU processing speed). To develop this metaphor, consider that the NVA, equipped mostly with small-caliber arms, drove off the most powerful army in the world of the time, which was systematically pummeling their country with vastly more devastating weapons, developed and coordinated by well-funded teams of high-IQ individuals. Did the NVA, in a military sense, possess intelligence (large-caliber gun barrels) or wisdom (knew where/how to aim)?

[–]covac[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Even a small caliber can be deadly and effective, if aimed at the right place. They knew where to aim, and never wavered. Basically, the NVA kept its goal modest enough, so it didn't need large-caliber gun barrels (high intelligence) to achieve it. In that sense, wisdom led to victory.

I would also argue that the "most powerful army in the world of the time" had wisdom (it knew where to aim), but lacked courage (which IMO is essential for intelligent decision-making) to follow through on what it was trying to achieve. If it had had courage, its decisions would have been more intelligent, and therefore more effective in defeating the enemy.