Embodied and Contextual Intelligence: Towards a Policy Framework for Higher Education

Abstract

This article explores the diverse epistemic perspectives on intelligence, tracing its conceptual evolution across early Indian philosophy, Western philosophical thought and contemporary computational theories. Intelligence is examined as a dynamic, multifaceted phenomenon that transcends mere cognition, extending into embodied, ecological and meta-intelligent domains. The discussion juxtaposes traditional views—where intelligence is seen as a divine or innate quality, a product of sagacious prudence, or a computational system—with more contemporary understandings that emphasize the role of context, embodiment and ecological interaction. Through a critique of pancomputationalism and an exploration of the non-computable aspects of intelligence, the article argues for a more holistic view that recognizes intelligence as an adaptive, contextually grounded and evolutionarily emergent property.