I'm not sure if Sidious is top in IQ. I mean, sure, he's a brilliant political genius, but he's at top because he's best at playing people, which doesn't necessarily correspond to highest IQ.
Plagueis seems more likely to me.
Originally posted by ILS
If mechanics and are engineering are to be considered Maul should probably be considered. Making functioning legs out of junk metal and attaching them in seconds after being cut in half.
That *is* good kludge work...
Originally posted by Q99What intelligence showing is there in the lore that surpasses outsmarting the entire Jedi Order and the Republic for decades?
I'm not sure if Sidious is top in IQ. I mean, sure, he's a brilliant political genius, but he's at top because he's best at playing people, which doesn't necessarily correspond to highest IQ.
Originally posted by Sinious
What intelligence showing is there in the lore that surpasses outsmarting the entire Jedi Order and the Republic for decades?
Again, plotting ability =/= IQ. IQ measures a fairly specific type of intelligence- one Sidious didn't stand out much in. Sidious shows very high levels of other types of intelligence. Building advanced equipment and showing great science knowledge is a higher showing of IQ.
Originally posted by Q99I understand your point but the dude specialized in politics. I personally see his depiction more as a genius who chose to be a manipulative politician(because it was in his character and nature) than a political prodigy who is smart only when it comes to politics. He was absent of virtue and had a perspective in life that was shaped by material logic only which is why he was obsessed with power. Power imo is the highest and most sophisticated desire a person's ego can have and Palpatine figured that out at a very young age as he said to Plageuis when they only recently met "If not power, then nothing".
Again, plotting ability =/= IQ. IQ measures a fairly specific type of intelligence- one Sidious didn't stand out much in. Sidious shows very high levels of other types of intelligence. Building advanced equipment and showing great science knowledge is a higher showing of IQ.
I think that is a much more sophisticated way of thinking than how someone like Obi-wan or Anakin perceives things. And I honestly don't see how Plagueis is smarter than Sidious as the whole point of their relationship was that Plagueis created a monster superior to himself. The novel also tells us that Sidious is the one who organized the whole revenge plot and Plagueis was focused on his experiments the whole time.
Sidious orchastrated the entire downfall of the reppublic and minpulated his way to supreme chancellior from being a random senator from Naboo playing the politics of the republic completely perfect. Order 66, the clones, etc Sidious did what no Sith ever did which is defeat the Jedi. He is clearly the smartest.