× Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask a question
Top Posters
Since Sunday
5
o
5
4
m
4
b
4
x
4
a
4
l
4
t
4
S
4
m
3
s
3
New Topic  
Naithi O_Rea Naithi O_Rea
wrote...
Posts: 7
Rep: 1 0
A year ago
Something I have been thinking about recently is how amazing humans are at learning (perhaps I think that because I'm part of the species.. lol)

Like, hunter-gatherers seem to live a pretty simple life. They don't seem to have anywhere near the number in their social network, they make a limited number of tools, only have to remember a certain number of plants and whatever else in their environment to remember.

I just feel like we seem to be able to learn how to do things really easily, like i am typing here on a computer, we drive cars (we build cars), just so many things... also our maths ability, how we can problem solve... All for a species that, if an individual's upbringing was differerent, would be living in a tribe. Like.. if i tried hard enough, i could memorise an insane number of arbitrary things, like, way more than seems would be necessary to live as a hunter-gatherer.

IDK.. We just seem to be smarter than we need to be. Love thoughts?

I was thinking maybe, some sexual selection might be at play here. Maybe perhaps competition between individuals or between tribes/clans (whatever), but then i was thinking, like, technological advancements were incredibly slow in the distantish to distant past... is it really that important to 'out smart' a rival.

Anyway.. Would be interested in any thoughts. I am no hunter-gatherer expert, and maybe not giving these ancestors of ours enough credit.

Read 84 times
1 Reply

Related Topics

Replies
Anonymous
wrote...
A year ago
Quote
IDK.. We just seem to be smarter than we need to be. Love thoughts?

It is a humbling thought, absolutely.

Quote
I was thinking maybe, some sexual selection might be at play here. Maybe perhaps competition between individuals or between tribes/clans (whatever), but then i was thinking, like, technological advancements were incredibly slow in the distantish to distant past... is it really that important to 'out smart' a rival.

Human intelligence allowed us to produce weapons, conquer tribes, build empires, etc. Look at the renaissance period in Europe, it lead to the development of the scientific revolution, where people began to observe and understand the world, and it is also lead to an explosion in public literacy levels. Thus, intelligence begets intelligence.

Fast-forward to the 20th century, I don't think much evolution in intelligence has taken place Grinning Face with Smiling Eyes Nowadays, even the less-advantaged have the ability to go to school, have a job, support a family, etc. Thus, most Western societies promote an egalitarian ethic. Certainly, however, intelligence is a desirable, selectable trait, which has lead some races to develop faster than others.
New Topic      
Explore
Post your homework questions and get free online help from our incredible volunteers
  966 People Browsing
Related Images
  
 3285
  
 333
  
 3344
Your Opinion
Which industry do you think artificial intelligence (AI) will impact the most?
Votes: 308