Intellect Amongst Species
The phrase "survival of the fittest", coined by Herbert Spencer. "Survival of the fittest" is a phrase that originated from Darwin's theory of Evolution, as a way of describing the mechanism of natural selection. Many aspects of surviving amongst other species can be credited to the level in which their brain capacity can reach. The food chain ranges from earthworm to human, but many questions arise stating why do humans trump other animals and come out as the superior race amongst all animals, though other animals are clearly more powerful than humans. The question commonly asked is what exactly makes us special as humans. Some may say this is credited to the level of intelligence humans acquire over animals. The
…show more content…
If this were so then in theory there should be more intelligent life on earth. The earth has been around for roughly four point five billion years. A fraction of that time reflects the two hundred million years dinosaurs had roamed the earth, yet dinosaurs are not (to of our knowledge) (parenthesis) by any stretch any form of intelligent life. A fraction of that time regarding roughly one hundred thousand years reflects the human existence on earth. The time humans have spent on earth compared to the time spent on earth by the dinosaurs is of a vast time difference. This further explains why evolution has no correlation to intelligence. Respecting intelligence, you begin to wonder where human intelligence comes from and why are different than animals. In some ways we are very different than animals, but have similar features that allow us to climb on the totem pole of …show more content…
In various measures regarding communication skills and, physical skills like hand eye coordination, Intelligence is measured based on the efficiency of such tasks as we perform them. How long we retain information, and how quickly and accurately we perform these tasks bases our intelligence level and our brain capacity otherly known as an IQ score. What makes us human beings and what makes us so special when it comes to intelligence? Our closest relatives the primates have the same capabilities of humans as far as physical features are concerned. So why is our intelligence significantly greater. Human brains are weighed in at a whopping three pounds, which is a monstrous size for a creature of our body size and weight. In comparison, chimpanzees have brains in which are fractional to our own brains, one-third the size, although chimpanzees have a very similar frame to us. Most brain-size difference reflects the expansion of the cerebral cortex caused by evolution, a group of regions in the brain that supports “higher thinking” and sophisticated cognitive functions such as language, self-awareness, and problem solving. Not only does the human have more neurons, some one hundred billion neurons (Randerson), in the association cortex, there have been brain imaging studies showing humans have a greater number of fibers creating a bridge (Metaphor) of connections, connecting the brain regions involved in functions humans are known to specialize in
The idea of survival of the fittest goes back to Darwin in his evolutionary theory, and Europeans used the same analogy to describe them and other nations. In document 6, William Schallmayer says that “competition makes some nations and races powerful and brings other, backward nations and races into decline”. In this statement,
The theory of social darwinism was first introduced to the public[1] in “A Theory of Population, Deduced from the General Law of Animal Fertility”, an article by Herbert Spencer published in 1852. This work preceded the publishing of Darwin’s book by seven years, and “given the timing, it is curious that Darwin’s theory was not labeled ‘natural Spencerism’ instead of Spencer’s theory being labeled ‘social Darwinism.’”[2] Spencer’s article, though mainly focused on biology and the ways in which animal populations develop, does include an inkling of the social ideas he would later more fully examine. His main theory of population deals with survival of the fittest, a phrase he coins in this a...
From all existing creatures, we humans differ because we are able to use our brain to make decisions. In
Darwin has two theories on the key principles of theory of evolution. One is the natural selection, a species that attains characteristics that are adapted to their environments (Darwin, Charles). The other one is survival of the fittest, which is when an individual best adapts to their environment survive to reproduce, and their genes are passed to later generat...
Monkey see, monkey do. Apes have always been thought to have an increased level of intelligence. Over the years, researchers have attempted to understand the degree of intelligence these primates possess. However, it is essential to understand the definition of intelligence in order to determine the amount of intelligence primates have. Intelligence is the capability of obtaining knowledge and being able to utilize it in everyday situations. There are many hypotheses that focus on the evolution of intelligence in primates that view a number of factors including brain size and modernism. Primate intelligence has been a topic of interest to many because it will allow us to further understand the close relationship between humans and primates. Additionally, we will be able to understand the difference between human and primate cognition. Some studies suggest that the human and primate brains possess many similarities. This demonstrates why primates tend to respond to stimuli in a manner that is closely related to humans. Researchers have conducted a number of studies in an effort to understand primate cognition.
To begin with, Pinker proposes the four traits that would facilitates the process of human intelligence throughout the human evolution history, which are the stereotypical vision, group living, hunting, and the dexterity of hands. He dedicates his time explaining how each of these four traits not only show that our cognitive niche and lifestyle have changed and advanced together, but also assist human to climb up to the ladder throughout the process of natural selection. However, he then states, “no one knows whether there are other, untried gradients to intelligence in biological design space (Pinker 197).” Pinker adjusts his statement by arguing that “the first human evolution was not a cascade of changes set off by a few key inventions” and convincing the readers that cognitive revolution is required to take place, which extends the human
“The scientific study of how humans developed did not begin until the 1800s in Europe. Until that time, people relied on religious explanations of how humans came into existence. Starting in the 1500s a scientific revolution began to sweep Europe. Thinkers started using scientific methods and experiments to try to better understand the world and the creatures living in it. Eventually these methods were turned to the question of human origins” (The Nature Of Human Origins, 1). Earth made it possible for species to change over time because Ancient Earth provides ability to plenty of time.The Homo Sapien a is very complex creature. The species started off very simple by living in caves and surviving with little food and then later evolved into a species that were able to do many more complex things. The first species was Sahelanthropus tchadensis They were one of the most simple humans in that time period and on. They had very small skulls compared to Homo Sapiens today and their motor skills were just the same. We have evolved and changed for the better both mentally and physically. The Evolution of Homo Sapiens started off simple, such as the Neanderthals, and now we are the most advanced species to ever walk the planet so far.
“Survival of the fittest” is a universally known law created by Charles Darwin, a well-known naturalist who came up with the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin’s law illustrated in many books and novels as well as real life. Survival of the fittest shows in three Alaskan novels written by Velma Wallis and Jack London. They wrote about Darwin’s law in many of their stories. The question is, are the instincts inherited from older generations or are they learned through trial and error.
... drawn. What makes us human? Through the examination of human evolution, both biological adaptations and cultural adaptations which are distinct to humans can be recognized. Biologically speaking, humans are unique in that they are bipedal, they have larger brain sizes, and longer leg length. When examining the cultural evolution of humans we have a complex language system, we live in communities, engage in symbolic behavior, and act through emotional impulses. While we are often considered to be superior to all other animals, it is important to recognize that while we are animals, we have very distinct characteristics and adaptations that separate us both biologically and culturally from all other animals.
Sabbatini (2001), the human intelligence is defined as the key to a trove of understanding about ourselves, and how natural selection could produce such a marvel as the human brain and its capacities in such a short time (Renato M.E Sabbatini, 2001). The evolution of human intelligence is considerable as a mystery matter because the process of evolution is very difficult to be observed directly in the paleontological record such as blood, teeth or bond. Moreover, the evidence that scientists used to determine the evolution of human intelligence is the indirectly from the observation of the increase in the size of cranial capacity and also the action of result of human intelligence such as knowing how to use stone tools and be cooperative to hunt and war, the use of fire to cook, art and ritual and few other things. Furthermore, the article argued that the intelligence is not unique to humans. This is because current scientific view show that there are different level of complexity of intelligence also present in mammals and human share many features with animals which we were though it is only unique to human. In fact, it is not, such as symbolic language which has been determined it happened in
The purpose of this paper to examine the evolution of the human brain that distinguishes them from other species based on the traits that humans possess: such as language, emotional complexity and consciousness. The significance of traits are due to adaptations in humans to promote the survival of our ancestors. Professor Hamilton (2012) discusses that the evolution of the human brain starts with the idea of the Triune brain, proposed by MacLean, whereby the human brain is made up of three parts: Reptilian, Paleo-mammalian, and Neo-mammalian. Animals with the neo-mammalian brain have a more complex brain compared to the other parts, since this is where the neocortex evolved. Humans essentially have this higher brain function which is responsible for our ability to think, make decisions, promote agency, and the ability to relate with each other. This concept fits into the evolutionary process since it shows how the complex the brain has become through evolutionary processes. In essence, as humans, we “have a rich, evidence-based understanding of our behavior that can lead us to plan to be ‘better’ or ‘more successful’ people” according to Professor Hamilton (2012). Thus, shows how evolution plays a significance in understanding human behavior and comparing humans with other species.
One of the most definitive things ever said regarding the nature of intelligence was that intelligence is whatever IQ tests measure. The IQ test has been in use throughout the 20th century and serves as an accepted measure of a person’s intelligence. It is used by institutions such as schools and the army to screen people’s level of intelligence and decisions are made based on that. The IQ test consists of a series of questions regarding certain skills such as vocabulary, mathematics, spatial relations. The scores that a person gets on these tests depend on the amount of questions that a person answers correctly. The actual score that a person gets is dependant on how others in that age group do on those particular questions.
This view, that humans are of special moral status, is constantly attempted to be rationalized in various ways. One such defense is that we are not morally wrong to prioritize our needs before the needs of nonhuman animals for “the members of any species may legitimately give their fellows more weight than they give members of other species (or at least more weight than a neutral view would grant them). Lions, too, if they were moral agents, could not then be criticized for putting other lions first” (Nozick, 79). This argument, that we naturally prefer our own kind, is based on the same fallacy used by racists while defending their intolerant beliefs and therefore should be shown to have no logical merit.
Survival of the fittest. This idea, also known as Darwinism, was theorized by scientist Charles Darwin to explain the evolution of animal species. In the late 1800s, however, the idea of Social Darwinism emerged and applied the same concepts of Darwinism but on humans not animals. As defined by the dictionary, Social Darwinism is a belief, popular in the late Victorian era throughout the world, which states that the strongest or toughest should survive and flourish in society, while the weak and unfit should be allowed to die (“Social” 1). Science fiction writer H.G. Wells lived when the ideas of Social Darwinism were at their peak. He was able to see firsthand what effects Social Darwinism had on the world, and he was by no means impressed. By examining the different critical lenses of The Time Machine, the reader can see how H.G. Wells warns how the adverse effects of Social Darwinism are endangering the future of humanity.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin