Intelligence

[ssl]

What is it?

Merriam-Webster puts it this way:

1a
(1): the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations
(2): the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one's environment

Where did we get this ability from?

Well, that depends. If you are of the opinion that we were created, then all seems well. Or does it? Consider for a moment, that if such is true, then we are no more than a common species on a planet. We were created for one purpose, and even if we do not know such purpose, we were still created as though a pig, wildcat, falcon, whale, or an almost unlimited number of bacteria.

If you suggest we evolved into an intelligent form, that would seem to contradict the idea of intelligence itself, being that if intelligence were evolved, the concept has had to exist before gaining such an ability to apply it to environmental manipulation. The trait must have evolved before the discovery of fire, or we would have been scared of it the whole time, and possibly regressed into non-existence, if not just some bubbling brook of splodge on a rock.

The thought is troubling, when you think of it as such:

What would happen if bacteria became intelligent? What if they already are?

That begets another question:

What if we are the only species that is not intelligent, just blindly consuming resources and not returning the investment?

Maybe this hunk of rock of a planet is an entity that exudes intelligence, but is smart enough to fake stupidity?

What is *real* intelligence?

 

[thatguyjeff]

If you suggest we evolved into an intelligent form, that would seem to contradict the idea of intelligence itself, being that if intelligence were evolved, the concept has had to exist before gaining such an ability to apply it to environmental manipulation. The trait must have evolved before the discovery of fire, or we would have been scared of it the whole time, and possibly regressed into non-existence, if not just some bubbling brook of splodge on a rock.

Your two sentences in this paragraph seem to contradict one another. And I'm not certain your frist statement is true.

In addition, you may be mixing intelligence with the idea of self-awareness. Two different concepts in my book.

Regarding evolution, assuming we all believe the evolution theory to be true, that's exactly what the evolution of human intelligence is (at least partially so), the gaining of concepts which never before previously existed.

Take your fire example. Fire can occur naturally, without human intervention. Lightning strikes, volcanic activity, etc. There likely was a time during human evolution where fire was feared. As we evolved, we learned to manipulate fire for use. Once fire was understood at even the most basic level, it was no longer feared as much.

When you consider the, "discovery of fire," it's important not to forget that fire existed long before humans. Fire itself wasn't discovered. The ability to control the fire is what was discovered.

 

[ssl]

Your two sentences in this paragraph seem to contradict one another. And I'm not certain your frist statement is true.

In addition, you may be mixing intelligence with the idea of self-awareness. Two different concepts in my book.

I do not wish to interweave self-awareness, however it may be difficult to not converge upon that realization, which is where I wanted to take the thread; but not this soon.

But in bringing that up, I shall provide you a point you may wish to consider, and it is as such:

I was messing with my cat yesterday, because I was about to rummage through the town in my car. I decided to see what would happen if she saw herself in the vanity mirror for the passenger of my car. I was not shocked to see her reaction, namely because there was no reaction.

She is self-aware, but the issue is intelligence. How intelligent is my cat? Well, what is intelligence? Thus this thread, a pondering of sorts out in the open online.

Regarding evolution, assuming we all believe the evolution theory to be true, that's exactly what the evolution of human intelligence is (at least partially so), the gaining of concepts which never before previously existed.

To my understanding, which can be flawed due to not being presented the full scope of the matter, evolution is the survival of the fittest, by inheriting traits that allow a species its survival among each other, predators, and its environment. Intelligence could be a factor, but not necessarily of evolution; evolution is dependent upon the environment (including species and predators), whereas intelligence allows a species to significantly impact or modify their environment, including fellow species members and predators.

Take your fire example. Fire can occur naturally, without human intervention. Lightning strikes, volcanic activity, etc. There likely was a time during human evolution where fire was feared. As we evolved, we learned to manipulate fire for use. Once fire was understood at even the most basic level, it was no longer feared as much.

But what made us learn? Why not just chalk it up to the big red ball in the sky, and the snowfalls due to the smaller white one at dark time?

When you consider the, "discovery of fire," it's important not to forget that fire existed long before humans. Fire itself wasn't discovered. The ability to control the fire is what was discovered.

Agreed. I should have specified the ability to control fire. However, even some wildfires are not yet conquered.

 

[GraceAbounds]

ssl, you know I luv ya. So just laugh at the fact that the first thing that came to mind when I read the OP is that it looked like something I would have typed after I had smoked a joint in my late teens. LOL!

Yes I know ... bad Gracie. Bad! heh!

 

[Peter Parka]

Intelligence is relative. You could be a brain surgeon but in a social situation I wouldn't have any more trust in you than someone who failed all their high school exams.

 

[ssl]

ssl, you know I luv ya. So just laugh at the fact that the first thing that came to mind when I read the OP is that it looked like something I would have typed after I had smoked a joint in my late teens. LOL!

Yes I know ... bad Gracie. Bad! heh!

Does someone need a spanking? :nod:

 

[GraceAbounds]

I've already gotten more than my fair share ... LOL! But alas the spankings stopped as hubby realized I enjoyed them too much.

 

[ssl]

I've already gotten more than my fair share ... LOL! But alas the spankings stopped as hubby realized I enjoyed them too much.

Surprise him by turning the tables.

 

[GraceAbounds]

I have ... he doesn't like it too much ... LOL!

 

[ssl]

Punish him until he does! :24:

 

[sharpies]

I personally believe that the evolution of intelligence in the primate we commonly call human was a really bad idea. There are animals that occupied this world for hundreds of millions of years - dinosaurs are a classic example - they did not develop intelligence but seemed to live rather well based on the thriving numbers of species towards the end. Yes I know they are no longer with us but it was an asteroid that wiped them out - a natural disaster. There are many others including insects, an animal that is born with every piece of information that it requires to survive - bloody fascinating.

Man has only been around for 3 million years or so & have a look at what we have done. Intelligence has given us the ability to so completely alter our own environment that we may be making it impossible for us to live in.

Allan

 

[Butler]

Everything has some level of intelligence. It's clearly not just something humans have. Look a the definition of intelligence. Humans have lots of it, to be sure, but other animals are smarter than we give them credit for. Just don't go crazy. I believe more in evolution than anything else. I think that as brains evolved, thinking began and grew more complex. Bacteria, as far as we know, do not think. They just seem to exist. Like plants. I think we can gauge the potential for intelligence based on the complexity of the brain. Humans win, certainly, but intelligence does not mean rationality, either. Humans will be destructive and self absorbed and still be intelligent.