Abstract

There is a tendency to associate intelligence with speed. ‘Quick’ is a synonym for clever and suggests intellectual ability. ‘Slow’, by contrast, implies a want of intelligence, even stupidity. The slow child in the class is the one who is ‘behind’, the one who must ‘catch up’ with the others. This is symptomatic of a wider stress in our culture on getting things done quickly and ‘saving time’. It seems that fear of time running out often compels us into running after it. Within philosophy however resources are available for challenging this perspective.