What is intelligence and do orks possess it.

[Ferrett]

I was talking with a friend and I came across a problem. He was saying that a single ork isn't intelligent and that all apparent intelligence is from the massed intelligence of the species. I stated about design and culture as being two deliminations of intelligence - both of which orks possess.

So the problem simplifies down to: What is a definition of inteligence?
Can a single ork possess it? Or is it a mass thing?

[Grailkeeper]

Definition of INTELLIGENCE
1a (1) : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : reason; also : the skilled use of reason (2) : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)

By this test alone Orks are intelligent. Best example of part 2- Looted vehicles

Does intelligence come from the horde alone?-NO. There are several cases of Orks who are more intelligent than most humans- Orkimedes and his new designs, Gazghull handing every imperial commander ever (bar YArrick) his tactical arse on a plate. (gazghull is a slightly worse example as he only came to prominence after cranial damage).

Orks have the biggest empire in the 40k universe- while it is in no way unified they couldn't have done this if they were stupid.

While orks might not care about certain higher things they are dead cunnin'. In fact one of their two main gods is the god of Cunnin'-Mork

Its an imperial stereo type Orks are stupid and guard commanders often underestimate their opponents strategic ability.

It does hurt orks that they are one of the comedy races based on 80's football mobs like millwall and west ham.

[Grailkeeper]

Also orks are on of the few xenos enemies the imperium fought during the time of the emperor that are still around.

[eldargal]

Orks are intelligent, but crude and lack subtlety (much like modern American comedians:p), but most definitely intelligent. Sometimes frighteningly so, from the perspective of the Imperium.

[AirHorse]

Yeah, orks can be pretty damn smart if they want to be. It just so happens that they generally prefer some good old fashioned 'ead stompin instead!

[Hyperion]

Definition of INTELLIGENCE

Orks have the biggest empire in the 40k universe- while it is in no way unified they couldn't have done this if they were stupid.



Not to be picky, but we managed quite happily whilst at the same time thinking Pith helmets stopped the sun turning you into a native.

[Lucidum]

Orks are absolutely intelligent, although certainly unrefined by say, human, Eldar, or Tau standards. What they lack in artistry, grace, and subtlety they makeup for (intelligence-wise at least) with invention and creation of new technologies, space travel, and even a distinct culture: not the least of which involves a simple-yet-igenious system of currency which even one Eldar scholar noted circumvented the problems that most species spend decades agonizing over. Furthermore, although they are obsessed with war and violence, they have been shown to cooperate, trade, and even come to truces (usually temporary) with other races in the galaxy, and are known to come up with startlingly complex (even if simplistically motivated) plans and strategies such as creating warp portals, invading new planets, or creating new technologies and weapons.

[Spectre]

Orks may seem stupid, but that's more of a language barrier then a indication of stupidity. They have an intelligence to match most of the other's races, but, them being aliens, they seem "alien" to the rest of us.

[Big mek]

"We iz ork, and we iz supa-dead smart!
You don fink so ya runt? TELL IT TO MY CHOPPA WAAAAAAHG!!!"

Maybe orks just need anger management classes....

[Orannis]

Orks may seem stupid, but that's more of a language barrier then a indication of stupidity. They have an intelligence to match most of the other's races, but, them being aliens, they seem "alien" to the rest of us.

Ork's have a language, Ciaphas Cain learns to speak it while shot down deep in Ork territory. Though according to him most of the language is words backed up with smacks to the listeners head. But i dont take Sandy Mitchel as complete cannon (after pariah's are stopped by a null).
They also have a comprehensive system of runes which represent whole words, rather then letters. There were several sheets of it in a white dwarf.