Mar 02 2009
Evolution and the Inevitability of Intelligence
A 2008 issue of Skeptic Magazine (vol. 14, No. 2) contains a number of articles critical of the idea that the evolution of life [eventually] leads to intelligence. Many people do seem to think, Well yah, given enough time, a species will stand up, start talking, and create computers and rocketships. The SETI folk are banking on it. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
Here are a few thoughts that cause me to doubt the notion that wherever life evolves intelligent life is sure to follow.
1. The horseshoe crab. And thousands of other species that have remained relatively unchanged over millions of years. Time alone doesn’t create intelligence. What else is necessary?
2. Remote human tribes that have been found living just fine, thank you, without advanced tools, let alone machines or electronic technology. If left alone for thousands of years would they develop the need and ability to build a radio (from, say, bamboo fiber)? Intelligence alone doesn’t magically lead to technological advancement. What else is necessary?
3. In my own thinking, one of the things that led to human intelligence is this: at crucial points our kind was a misfit. In a time of dynamic change (climactic, etc.) survival is somewhat of a game of musical chairs. Who fits the existing niches best? For those less fit, the mis-fit, the name of the tune is change or go bye-bye. How close did our branch of the shrub of life come to going bye-bye? Without nearly losing the game of musical survival would human intelligence have still evolved? Too little challenge, no intelligence; too much challenge, no intelligence?
4. How essential was it to the development of human intelligence and technology that we are an omnivorous animal that tends to live in limited group sizes in a variety of ecosystems that thus could and would be interested in trade?
5. If we subtracted any of these resources from the earlier human environments, would we be talking on cell phones today: flint-able stone (none here in Florida) iron ore, crude oil, copper . . . ?
6. Finally, is it also possible that our kind has been quite fortunate to not encounter super-predators and direct meteor strikes, etc.?
Is the development of intelligent life inevitable? I doubt it. There are just too many contingencies.
[...] that half a wing is useful indeed. The final straw was when the Evolving Mind noted that evolution does not inevitably lead to intelligence. They ran away, leaving me alone once more in the internet [...]
[...] that half a wing is useful indeed. The final straw was when the Evolving Mind noted that evolution does not inevitably lead to intelligence. They ran away, leaving me alone once more in the internet [...]