One of the things that many evolutionists and creationists agree on is that humans are at some sort of pinnacle of intelligence. It's easy for creationists to believe this since we were created by god, etc, different from the animals, etc.
But many rationalists also take to this anthropocentric egotism. This is easy to see also. Humans occupy the niche of tool-using, language-speaking, rational-thinking, social omnivore.
So, since both groups claim that we are highly intelligent, etc, better than the animals, etc, it would seem that this is not a subject over which we could debate on this forum.
But here's my claim: both groups are very wrong. Once you see that we didn't evolve intelligence, but stupidity, it becomes very clear.
OK, way back, what did the first "intelligent" hominids actually evolve? A little tool-use, a little language, maybe the ability to plan a bit, and a social structure perhaps. But at what cost? They were lumbered with "brains" (if we can dignify them with that term) that got everything wrong!
Myths, mysticism, superstition, and yes, religion, are all descendants of this innate stupidity that we developed as a method, say, of increasing our hunting-gathering efficiency by 7%.
We seem biologically incapable of stamping out such obviously false beliefs like astrology, palmistry, dowsing, and TV psychics. Whereas the "lower" animals engage primarily in non-lethal competition, and tend to delineate thier territory with things like song, we engage in massive, destructive warfare over supernatural entities that can't even be seen to exist. We invented Britney Spears!
These are not the actions of the mere non-thinking brute. These are indications of active, advanced, stupidity.
You may accuse me of being amusingly cynical. But it is quite easy to see what a species that evolved intelligence would really be like.
Their archaics would not have concluded that little pieces of wood or obsidian were the embodiment of superbeings that either had to be worshipped to make the sun come up tomorrow, or else wanted to squish you like a bug.
They would have developed a core of rationalism and naturalism from the start. They would never have insisted, at the point of a sword, that the earth was the center of the universe. They would have left it as an open question until they had enough information to make a coherent theory.
They would treat obviosuly false stories as obviously false.
They might even have reached a biological point where their yearlings would be able to read, write, and converse with their adults, rather than enduring decades of "education".
No. We have not (yet) evolved intelligence. We occupy the specialist niche of being confounded morons. It provides us with certain advantages in the wild, apparently, but intelligence and reason are not among them.
Why is this relevant? Because no creationist theory has specified that god created us to be the cosmic clowns we are.
DanZ
Evolution of intelligence
Moderator: Moderators
Post #2
I most definitely agree with you, as intelligence is defined as the ability to comprehend ( short version) the reality we live in. And clearly, 99% of humanity does not do this. (see Religion).No. We have not (yet) evolved intelligence. We occupy the specialist niche of being confounded morons. It provides us with certain advantages in the wild, apparently, but intelligence and reason are not among them.
Interesting, your saying that the people the Creationist talk about do not exist, and instead we have a bunch of evolved apes?Why is this relevant? Because no creationist theory has specified that god created us to be the cosmic clowns we are.
Post #3
I find it funny the way that christianity has humans running amok in need of a redeeming saviour. This of course makes perfect sense given our affinities with our animal ancestry, but it doesn't square at all with the notion of our special creation for special purposes. Of course this gap can be plugged by invoking all manner of twists and turns, but what stares us in the face is a far simpler answer: that we are just an animal with a extra bit of neural networking developed instead of sharper teeth.
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Ian Parker
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Post #4
QED wrote:I find it funny the way that christianity has humans running amok in need of a redeeming saviour. This of course makes perfect sense given our affinities with our animal ancestry, but it doesn't square at all with the notion of our special creation for special purposes. Of course this gap can be plugged by invoking all manner of twists and turns, but what stares us in the face is a far simpler answer: that we are just an animal with a extra bit of neural networking developed instead of sharper teeth.
The best way to find out whether or not we have been specially created or not is to look at AI. If we just had a little bit more neural programming this could easily be reproduced in Silicon. I think anyone who wishes to comment on this should read
1) The exchanges in "Intelligent Design" in this forum.
2) Look at AI from a completely non religious stand point. Look for example at AI in Google groups.
I am in fact a Christian, but I believe too in stringent scientific tests, done preferably by atheists. I have challenged atheism to come up with a brand new methodology, because that is what is required.
