Rebuttal: Hermione IS intelligent.

[readerravenclaw]

I just wrote a very long rebuttal in response to another poster's claim that Hermione is NOT very intelligent, and it's long enough that I'd like to post it here as well. The original post is here. To sum up, the original poster felt that Herione is not especially intelligent, and that the fact that she studies so much and constantly must return

Comments

[faite_]

I read your argument and agree with it whole-heartedly.

I was quite astounded at how easily she dismissed Harry as a complex charactar, as a strong charactar and quite shockingly- Hermione's intelligence.

I've had my doubts before about the nature of true intelligence, of specifically Ravenclawtype intelligence...but in my humble opinion, Hermione is definitely intelligent. She's both logical and intuitive, both feeling and thinking wise. She's able to make connections and draw links and combine them with knowledge. I think most of all it's her ability to be both logical and intuitive that makes her intelligent, it isn't all about books. It's also how you apply it under pressure. I guess that's why she's more of a Gryffindor than a Ravenclaw.

[anonymous]

I totally agree with your post, and moreover I find that it is perfectly polite, which cannot be said from Mira's replies to you. But that doesn't surprise me. She can't bear the *slightest* hint of someone not agreeing with her: http://www.livejournal.com/community/fanfic_hate/2918.html?thread=2247526#t2247526

Hi

[swatkat24]

Just dropped by to say hello, because I added you to my flist. *g* I enjoyed your post in hp_essays, and even more the discussion that followed. I don't agree with anyone who says Hermione isn't intelligent, but it's nice to argue with people who have different POVs from my own, isn't it?

I must say I was surprised by the question of 'intellectualism' that arose in that thread. How can you judge the intellect of a fifteen year old witch by the standards of an adult Muggle? And since Hermione was raised as a Muggle, wouldn't it be quite natural for her to be fascinated by magic (unlike Harry, who after the initial "Oooh, shiny!" reaction settles down quite happily in the WW) and want to read more about it?

Swatkat

Re: Hi

[readerravenclaw]

Friends are always more than welcome. :) I've friended you back, by the way; your journal seems to be mostly HP-related, so I'm sure I'll find your posts interesting. :)

And yes, I love debates as well - as long as they don't degenerate into personal attacks. Which we've pretty much avoided so far, I think. :)

My opinion is that the intellectualism issue arose, at least in part, from differing definitions of intellectualism. For example, my definition of an intellectual is simply someone who enjoys using logic and reasoning, and who enjoys learning, theorizing, and ideas for their own sake. Other people have a much more complex and narrow definition of an intellectual which involves such things as philosophy, literature, and fine arts. :) You can imagine that some heated arguments would develop when trying to communicate with such different definitions of the same word.