"(bvw)Like the dinosaurs, however, death of a bad idea is a long time passing."
"So were dinosaurs an experiment?"
You know, if you think about it critically, humans may be the least favorable evolutionary model so far. Seems like a perfect path. An organism that can reflect on itself, develop way to heal itself, and possibly even escape its environment. Seems like a good pathway. The problem is it is a "hot" pathway that will probably burn itself out quickly in geologic terms. And, if you think about it, evolution doesn't seem to care so much for intelligence, especially self recognition type intelligence. It seems to be perfectly happy evolving bacteria. So, with no favoritism, and no care for time passed, evolution is truly a perpetual life engine.
You know, if you think about it critically, humans may be the least favorable evolutionary model so far.
Well, except for developing the ability to deliberately destroy itself, it's been successful so far (I think that's Sagan's point).
And, if you think about it, evolution doesn't seem to care so much for intelligence, especially self recognition type intelligence.
I think the jury is still out on that. AFAIK, there's no data to support your speculation.