Thread: Cleverness and the human hand.

Are we really more intelligent than other animals, or has our cleverness and our use of tools spawned a diverse technology in which we vainly admire our own reflection.

Yes, we are really more intelligent than other animals. And technology provides evidence of that. But the other thing is, there's no evidence that animals possess the level of intelligence that we have.

We were able to develop tools and use them because of both our intelligence and physical characteristics. Those things developed and evolved in tandem. If other animals could walk upright and had opposable thumbs, perhaps they would have evolved differently. But they didn't. And here we are.

Recognizing that we are more intelligent than animals has nothing to do with vanity. We can reason and plan and project and solve complex problems. Our physical traits allow us to act on that thinking in ways that other animals can't. That's why we've developed tools and they haven't.

As I said in the other thread, I'm sure that a gazillion studies and experiments have been done that were designed to demonstrate animal intelligence -- so if there is evidence that they are as intelligence as we are -- I'd like to see it. Seems like it would have been big news, so I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, we are more intelligent than animals but I would argue that their structure and composition is perhaps more effective than ours. I think that this is worth arguing about, to me a chimp if given the same level of intelligence as us would be more effective in all the things that we do.

Originally Posted by Custard

Yes, we are more intelligent than animals but I would argue that their structure and composition is perhaps more effective than ours. I think that this is worth arguing about, to me a chimp if given the same level of intelligence as us would be more effective in all the things that we do.

I think you'd find animal focus is due to their simplicity of thought, purpose, and reliance on instinct. Giving them human intelligence would likely ruin them in this aspect, as then they'd become just like us.

Animals have measurable intelligence.
Some animals are more intelligent than others.
Humans are animals.
Humans are the most intelligent animals.

I remember reading that advances in technology have been followed by increases in population. I don't remember the source.

Has anyone else read something similar?

Originally Posted by stonefly

I remember reading that advances in technology have been followed by increases in population. I don't remember the source.

Has anyone else read something similar?

I'm sure there's a scad of articles on how advances in food production and health sciences have allowed for increases in population size and density. It should hold that the healthier we are and the more food available the larger the population will grow.

Originally Posted by Capulet

Animals have measurable intelligence.
Some animals are more intelligent than others.
Humans are animals.
Humans are the most intelligent animals.

You left one out:

Humans may be the most destructive animal.

Oh, no. Are you going to gunk up this thread with more of your ultra-simplistic, moralistic nattering? It's getting really old.

Found this to be a very interesting read.

Are humans more intelligent than animals? | Brenda Lee Moore

Originally Posted by JosephB

Oh, no. Are you going to gunk up this thread with more of your ultra-simplistic, moralistic nattering? It's getting really old.

Is that the junk they teach you in your church? Putting down others? You need either a new pastor or a new set of ears.



"Man is related to the monkey; only a monkey, however, would ever admit the relationship." --anonymous

See, there's a grain of truth in the saying: "You're a monkey's uncle."

Please leave out the personal comments and I'll leave out the infractions.

Well still tho, even though humans are more 'intelligent' I would say that we have not used it to help our planet. I would like to contest that perhaps it would have been better if we had not been so intelligent. It may have been better for the planet?

Intelligent? Put your money on the ape! As Captain Kirk so often said, "Beam me up, Scotty. There's no intelligent life down here."

Originally Posted by SilverMoon

Found this to be a very interesting read.

Are humans more intelligent than animals? | Brenda Lee Moore

Thanks, SilverMoon.

I'm definitely going to buy a copy of that book.

Originally Posted by stonefly

Thanks, SilverMoon.

I'm definitely going to buy a copy of that book.

Oops...I just googled it and read it. It is an interesting read.

Back to google to see what else I can find.