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Hello! Thank you for choosing to visit this exhibition.
The first thing you will see is four videos. They show very different situations, but they all have one thing in common: in each case, someone or something is performing an action. In your opinion, in which of these four situations can we speak of “intelligence”? And why?
On the back of this large wooden cabinet, you will find a number of authoritative definitions of intelligence proposed over the past century by researchers working in very different scientific fields. But before you turn the corner and take a look at their definitions, take a moment to think about it yourself: what is intelligence? Could you define it?
If you find it difficult, you are in good company: there is no single, universally agreed definition. The word “intelligence” resists being pinned down; its meaning shifts depending on the context and the moment. And when we use it—as we often do—we may not always mean the same thing.
Intelligence is still an open scientific case. If we tried to gather everything we know about it, we would end up with a vast collection of clues. The large wooden structures you will encounter throughout the exhibition are like case files containing some of these clues: evidence, experiments, theories—the material on which scientific investigation is built, and through which science is trying to construct a theory of intelligence. Some of these clues fit neatly together, while others seem to contradict one another. It is up to you to explore them: to move closer, then step back; to follow a thread and then lose it again, as you venture into one of the most fascinating mysteries of human knowledge.
Before wishing you a “happy investigation,” here are two practical tips to help you make the most of your visit: along the way, you will find activities to take part in, instructions on how to carry them out, in-depth texts, and some numbers next to a headphone symbol. These numbers correspond to the audio tracks in this guide, where you can explore the content in greater depth, cabinet by cabinet.
And now, we’re ready: happy investigating!