PrintLanguage has power. Those who get to determine definitions often get to determine the scope of "legitimate" discussion for a particular topic. Thus, certain discourses are legitimate and privileged, certain discourses are marginalized as less important, and some discourses may be tainted as illegitimate and not worthy or allowable for discussion. The legitimacy and privilege of a discourse is critical when it comes to resource allocation. Those with privileged discourse win, while those with marginalized or illegitimate discourses lose, to a lesser or greater degree.
Required Reading
Read Lowenthal's Chapter 1: "What is Intelligence?" in Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy.
As you read, do some critical thinking and ask yourself:
- Who is the author, and what is his agenda?
- Why do they define intelligence as they do?
- What are alternative discourses that might define intelligence differently?
- Why is this discourse powerful, as evidenced by its inclusion in a standard textbook now in its sixth edition?
- What might be your alternative definition?
Knowledge Check
Prepare for the quiz by answering the following questions.