For someone who didn’t personally write down his thoughts, Greek philosopher Socrates sure does have a great influence over modern-day thinking. Luckily, one of his protégés, Plato, kept track and shared many of his mentor’s views, which have stood the test of time. This all happened between 300-400 B.C.E., so the fact that we’re still discussing it speaks volumes.

One particular idea from Socrates gets to the root of what makes a person intelligent. According to him, it’s not the elasticity of your mind or the way you were raised, nor how far you’ve traveled or your spatial awareness. Plain and simple, it’s your sheer intrigue and willingness to read and learn. This willingness actually supports the very thing Socrates believed was the biggest indicator of intelligence: curiosity.

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‘I know that I know nothing’

Socrates, like his philosopher colleagues, spoke in Ancient Greek, so his ideas and words were often translated slightly differently. But the gist of his theory is this: “I’m intelligent because I........

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