'Intelligent Life'

Intelligent Life

Eddi (64.15.7.8) -

Why are humans the only animals that have achieved a useful level of intelligence and use of technology on earth?

Comment #1 "buzz" (69.137.69.35) -

Well, that would depend on your definition of "intelligence" and "technology". If you define them in "human" terms, then your answer is because only humans are humans. If you define "Technology" as "tool use", then humans AREN'T the only ones, there are several species of birds that use tools, fellow primates use tools, and there are even forms of aquatic life that use tools. "Intelligence" is trickier still, because if it does not resemble human intelligence, it is harder for us to recognize; however, language is usually used as one indicator. Indeed, we find several animals that use what we recognize as language, too; from whales and dolphins, to primates, parrots (who are more than just mimics), and dogs. Koko, the primate, was able to learn human sign language, and understood it well enough to "invent" signs she needed for unknown words from those already in her vocabulary. There was a dolphin that communicated with their "trainer" in a similar way. How amazing would it be, if we could learn the languages of whale, or dolphin, and learn the knowledge that they share. But talking to an aquatic intelligence is truly an encounter with an alien culture, we have so little in common. Which, for me, makes the fact that a dolphin learned to communicate with her trainer in any way, an indication that we may not be the smartest creatures on the planet after all. Human technology is not necessarily all that it is cracked up to be (although I wouldn't want to do without it. ), and you could also ask: "Why, if mankind has been on this earth in modern form for some 50,000 years, or so; has there been found no traces of technology for less than one fifth of that time, and modern technology only for the past few HUNDRED years?" I think that's a much more interesting question.

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