In my continuing search for evidence that a soul entity exists, I once watched a television documentary about a "savant" named Daniel Tammet. Daniel had the ability to solve mathematical problems as fast as a calculator. For example, he could solve Pi to an infinite number of decimal places - in one instance 22,514 decimal places. When he was asked how he did it, his answer was that he saw everything as an interconnected web. He claimed to see numbers and words as a landscape of shapes, sounds, colors, and movement. He also implied that everything in the universe is interconnected. Daniel's brain capabilities take the conscious and subconscious mind to a whole new level. Is Daniel Temmet's extraordinary abilities a result of an external link to the soul, or is it just an unusual brain or soul function?
But, let's not leave it there, let's discuss intelligence as it relates to the human soul. While a dog, primate, or android may seem intelligent, it doesn't mean that they have human emotion and intelligence as we know that it is.
To discuss intelligence as it relates to the existence of a soul I'll begin with these very famous words from The United States Constitution, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal." While it is clear that some mortal humans have different mental and physical abilities than others, it's my contention that God made all souls equal in capability, but unique in character. In fact, as mentioned in earlier commentary, I believe that the biblical implication of humans being made in the image of God means the image of the soul rather than the human body. However, mortal humans have brain differences that impose physical and mental limitations that an equally capable and intelligent soul probably cannot overcome - at least until it is released from the body during a physical death. It is also my contention that the soul is capable of developing unique types of intelligences with each unique physical brain --- including people with physical brain damage.
Too many times we judge people based upon their intelligence test scores, however, these tests tend to only measure a certain type of intelligence. It has been my observation that people with high intelligence test scores tend to be lacking in other areas of human intelligence - especially common sense. It is rare to find someone who, "has it all," but many have varying degrees of it all. So for an equally intelligent soul having to interact with brain differences, posses some challenges. In other words, the soul must deal with the hand that it is dealt. In some instances a person with a severely damaged or unusual brain type, may have remarkable capabilities. These people are sometimes referred to a savants - like Daniel Tammet. However, in most cases the ancestral history of a person determines their brain differences. As a result it appears that God has accommodated physical brain differences in a way that tends to level the playing field for mortal humans. In the process of leveling the playing field, intelligence can be broken down into more than one type.
Psychologist Dr. Howard Gardner claims that there are nine types of intelligence, but I believe that there are more. I believe that there are more because the words talent, common sense, intuition, and inclination should also be substituted for the word intelligence. Talent, common sense, intuition and inclination can range from compassion to generosity, and everything in between. But, for specificity I will quote from Gardner's summary of intelligence types:
Naturalistic Intelligence ("nature smart")
The human ability to discriminate among living things (plants and animals) as well as a sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock configurations). Typical professions include being a botanist or chef.
Musical Intelligence ("music smart")
The ability to discern pitch, rhythm, timber, and tone. This intelligence enables people to recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music. People with this intelligence may become a composer, conductor, musician, and/or vocalist.
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence ("number/reasoning smart")
The ability to calculate, quantify, consider propositions and hypotheses, and carry out complete mathematical operations. It enables us to perceive relationships and connections and to use abstract, symbolic thought; sequential reasoning skills; and inductive and deductive thinking patterns. This intelligence is generally associated with mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and detectives.
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