A possible definition of intelligence.
Marko Vitas, Srdjan Cvjetović, Andrej Dobovišek
Bio Systems May 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2026.105776 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Cognition Definition of consciousness Definition of intelligence Definition of life Origins of life |
| Key points | Proposes that intelligence, as an emergent property of consciousness, is the ability to intentionally solve challenges and adapt to new situations and an ever-changing environment, framed within a thermodynamic perspective. |
Abstract
There is no consensus about what consciousness and its emergent form, intelligence, are. Yet this article proposes a new definition of intelligence. The new definition implicates the thermodynamic aspect of an intelligent system as a far from equilibrium phenomenon. The new definition of intelligence presented herein is formulated in a minimal manner; simultaneously, it is general enough to cover all emergent forms of intelligence, e.g. thinking, rationality, problem-solving, adaptation and other relevant categories and aspects. The newly formulated definition states that: Intelligence, as an emergent property of consciousness, is the ability to intentionally solve challenges and adapt to new situations and to an ever-changing environment. The definition of intelligence presented herein may be of interest to cognitive and computer sciences, space exploration, or the search for extraterrestrial intelligence - and even to the development of artificial intelligence or general philosophy.