Social Intelligence

Many people think that the person who is the center of attention has the greatest social intelligence.  That is not true, as sociopaths, a diagnosable and almost untreatable personality disorder, are often charismatic.  Hitler was charismatic, but his social intelligence was deplorable.  Hitler was often the center of attention, but his social intelligence was deplorable.

Social intelligence is something that is desirable.  People that don’t have it are often in prison.  Bernie Madoff could see things from other people’s perspectives, but because he didn’t use it for good, he was not intelligent.  So, what is good?  I have to define that before I start.

The definition of good is doing that which is most correct to the best of one’s ability, otherwise known as good deeds.  There is forgiveness for those that act their best.  However, there is punishment for those that try their hardest.  That is, social intelligence does not require for one to try their hardest.  Therefore, doing one’s best and trying as hard as one can are not the same thing.

People that are socially intelligent are nice, and see judgment and ethics as being very important.  They also know when to be merciful.

Many people that are socially intelligence have written works that far outlast their generation.  The authors of the Bible were socially intelligent.  Plato was socially intelligent.  Plato often didn’t even put himself first in his works.  His works were usually about Socrates.  And, though Plato was a philosopher, and most learned individuals would consider him the important philosopher, being a philosopher does not make one socially intelligent, as there can be knowledge of good and evil.

The socially intelligent person turns the evil into good by doing good deeds, while the person that creates knowledge of evil for its own sake is not socially intelligent.  That is, even if there is seemingly nothing redeemable about a situation or a person, a socially intelligent person can say, look at that guy, he does evil, therefore, his time of judgment will eventually come.  Thus, though a socially intelligent person may not able to redeem the evil person himself, he can at least use that person as an example that in the battle of good and evil, where good always wins eventually.  It may take many, many years, but good wins eventually.

People that are socially intelligent are those that will call someone and be nice, without asking or expecting anything in return, even though it means that they are calling someone who is not a social butterfly or even popular, and the socially intelligent person is able to put a smile on his or her face, knowing that he or she has done a good deed.

Though a socially intelligent person is not a villain, he or she can act the role of a villain, if it is required that someone play that role.  Devil’s advocates are important too!  Being a good devil’s advocate requires social intelligence.

People who are socially intelligent don’t see themselves as needing to be the greatest hero.  Someone who is socially intelligent would more likely try to be the best fan.