[sampo]

> let's propose an arbitrary one for intelligence: Ability to prove mathematical theorems

The number of mathematical theorems proven by humankind has progressed in a continuous manner (as much as a quantity measured by integer numbers can) during history.

[paganel]

That only says something about maths, not about humans. For comparison, you could say that the number of literary masterpieces has been increased at what looks to be random intervals for the last 2 or 3 millennia, with no continuous progress in sight (i.e. the Spanish language has not had a new Cervantes for 400 years, the same applies to Skakespeare and the English language or to Dante and Italian). But this being an website mostly addressed to people who focus on technical stuff I expect a reply like “literature doesn’t count, it’s just words”.

[simonh]

Despite us starting with the simplest theorems and progressing to significantly harder and harder ones over time? Wow. That’s actually very impressive.