As said before, there are several types of intelligence. THere is logical, social, physical and several other kinds (at least according to Howard Gardner's theory) and being better at one than the others is no shame. Making fun of a jock because he doesn't get a metaphor is ignoring his ability to think about spatial references better than the average.
But if you want to improve your logical intelligence, well, math and logic are a great way of doing it. First you may try high school levels of problems. Not the "solve the equation" type, but the multiple step ptoblems. If you are able to do those (identifying variables, getting where you need to go and applying the necessary steps to get to the solution given the data) you are in a good place to sart. Then try doing some real math. SOlve a simple theorem (especially if you have a decent algebra) like "A partition of a set implies a equivalence class" (looking into the terminology of sets a bit, if you know what you are talking about this is quite easy to prove). Theorem proving (the basis of real math) is all about taking logical steps and arriving at a conclusion. You don't have to prove anything hard, simple Geomtry and Algebra are good enough to practice. Also, look into Logic. Modus Tolens, Modus Ponens, falacies, silogisms, those simple terms may help you think in a different light than you've done before (although the learning order is reversed from what I said). if you want to be better at problem solving, it is the same as every other skill, practice makes you better. Solve logical and math problems.
Read more and see documentaries. But not just absorb what they are saying. Try to explain it yourself to other people (siblings, parents, firends) so that you can really process what they are saying (first try talking to someone that knows, so they can correct your errors). Try talking in your own words what Darwin's evolution is and how it is different form Lamark's. What was Faraday's great idea? Why was it so releveant, not only for the modern world, but for physics of its time? Why was Cantor such a big and probelmatic figure in mathematics? And if science is not your thing, read philosophy or history or literature. Read Fucault and Kant and try to explain what their contributions where. When you explain something with your own words you are processing the knowledge. Critical thinking comes as a by product of acquring knowledge, as you start seing thing in different lights.
And don't be afraid to discuss, ask and put your ideas out there. Knowledge is not a solitary endevour. Discuss with your girlfriend about that book you just read, or that documentary that you just saw, or the theory that you just heard. Talk, share view points and do not be afraid to show your ignorance. The only thing that shows complete and problematic ignorance is not showing ignorance. Don't ba afraid of the "I don't know" and ask other pepople to tell you things. Engage them when they explain, try asking questions about this and that. Expand your horizons. Your girlfirend knows a lot about biology? Well, talk about DNA or filia and if you don't know something, tell her to explain and then ask questions, show that you are learning, that you are thinking about what you are talking. Intelligence is willingness to learn, more than anything (at least classical intelligence, and that is for me). It is firghtful, as the more you learn the more you see that you don't know, but rewarding. Never stop learning, never stop doing problems, never stop questioning.
Also, try learning a different language as an extra. Grammatics is a lot of patterns applied to circumstance, so it may help you with patern recognition and knowing which pattern to use in different situations. German, SPanish, French or Japanese usually have regular gramatics and may help you to see how something very large works. Also, it expands horizons, as you are able to talk wiht more people and see different cultures.
Is is a never ending road. And a beatiful one for that. And that will last all your life if you dedicate yourself.
AS to applying knowledga to different situations, well, I think that tht is more experience than anything. Acquire knowledge and experience things to see where those things work.
But if you want to improve your logical intelligence, well, math and logic are a great way of doing it. First you may try high school levels of problems. Not the "solve the equation" type, but the multiple step ptoblems. If you are able to do those (identifying variables, getting where you need to go and applying the necessary steps to get to the solution given the data) you are in a good place to sart. Then try doing some real math. SOlve a simple theorem (especially if you have a decent algebra) like "A partition of a set implies a equivalence class" (looking into the terminology of sets a bit, if you know what you are talking about this is quite easy to prove). Theorem proving (the basis of real math) is all about taking logical steps and arriving at a conclusion. You don't have to prove anything hard, simple Geomtry and Algebra are good enough to practice. Also, look into Logic. Modus Tolens, Modus Ponens, falacies, silogisms, those simple terms may help you think in a different light than you've done before (although the learning order is reversed from what I said). if you want to be better at problem solving, it is the same as every other skill, practice makes you better. Solve logical and math problems.
Read more and see documentaries. But not just absorb what they are saying. Try to explain it yourself to other people (siblings, parents, firends) so that you can really process what they are saying (first try talking to someone that knows, so they can correct your errors). Try talking in your own words what Darwin's evolution is and how it is different form Lamark's. What was Faraday's great idea? Why was it so releveant, not only for the modern world, but for physics of its time? Why was Cantor such a big and probelmatic figure in mathematics? And if science is not your thing, read philosophy or history or literature. Read Fucault and Kant and try to explain what their contributions where. When you explain something with your own words you are processing the knowledge. Critical thinking comes as a by product of acquring knowledge, as you start seing thing in different lights.
And don't be afraid to discuss, ask and put your ideas out there. Knowledge is not a solitary endevour. Discuss with your girlfriend about that book you just read, or that documentary that you just saw, or the theory that you just heard. Talk, share view points and do not be afraid to show your ignorance. The only thing that shows complete and problematic ignorance is not showing ignorance. Don't ba afraid of the "I don't know" and ask other pepople to tell you things. Engage them when they explain, try asking questions about this and that. Expand your horizons. Your girlfirend knows a lot about biology? Well, talk about DNA or filia and if you don't know something, tell her to explain and then ask questions, show that you are learning, that you are thinking about what you are talking. Intelligence is willingness to learn, more than anything (at least classical intelligence, and that is for me). It is firghtful, as the more you learn the more you see that you don't know, but rewarding. Never stop learning, never stop doing problems, never stop questioning.
Also, try learning a different language as an extra. Grammatics is a lot of patterns applied to circumstance, so it may help you with patern recognition and knowing which pattern to use in different situations. German, SPanish, French or Japanese usually have regular gramatics and may help you to see how something very large works. Also, it expands horizons, as you are able to talk wiht more people and see different cultures.
Is is a never ending road. And a beatiful one for that. And that will last all your life if you dedicate yourself.
AS to applying knowledga to different situations, well, I think that tht is more experience than anything. Acquire knowledge and experience things to see where those things work.
