Quote from: bioweapon on Apr 23, 2012, 01:36:38 AM
so as birds. hell, a dog can do that. that just prove animals have some level of intuition. but eons of animal species appear and vanish without evidence of another species as complex as human.
there´s no explanation for this yet in this evolution theory.
The bolded statment is a fallacious argument.
The rise of intelligence and consciousness in early homonids does not require any "special" explanation within Evolutionary Theory, versus any other adaptation that conferred a fitnesss/survival advantage for a particular organism, due to changing local conditions. Human consciousness was not a "goal" of Evolution, and ascribing any special "direction" or outcome for it is ill conceived.
The simple fact is, that increasing intelligence conferred specific, selective advantages in some early primates (who happen to be our direct ancestors), due to the challenges of their particular environment. Meanwhile, the development of greater intelligence did not confer any special selective advantages for most other primates, due to their unique environments. Intelligence, as an adaptative solution to the challenge of Natural Selection is no better and no worse than any other adaptation, such as the venom of a pit viper, or the exquisite hydrodynamic shape of a dolphin.
Furthermore, increasing intelligence within our hominid ancestors had to confer a selective advantage, along each and every step of the way.
Interestingly, there is compelling research to suggest convergent (independant) evolution of a degree of cognitive intelligence in completely unrelated species: Primates (particularly the great apes), Elephants, Cetaceans, Corvids, domestic Dogs, Cephalopods, etc.
The following species have been acknowleged to have passed the MRS (Mirror Response Test), which is a fundamental test for self-awareness / self-recognition, and implies a highly developed degree of cognitive intelligence: Humans, Chimpanzees, Bonobos, Orangutans, Gorillas, Dolphins, Orcas, Elephants, European Magpies.
