[Cobra Scott]

Adding to that, there is no reason to believe that high intellegence is an evolutionary step upwards; more like a sidestep.

Are grasses less evolved than trees?

Are sharks less evolved than primates?

Is complexity a desirable trait and simplicity undesireable, in the grand scheme of things?

[WackyKat]

Is complexity a desirable trait and simplicity undesireable, in the grand scheme of things?

Cockroaches are the pinnacle of evolution

[jennyp]

...Are sharks less evolved than primates?

Is complexity a desirable trait and simplicity undesireable, in the grand scheme of things?

Apparently not, until one species happens to pass a certain threshold of intelligence. At that point, history tells us that it became very desirable for us. So I guess one species has to first stumble onto that one developmental pathway & reach that threshold level where more intelligence is better. Up until that point, a runaway evolution of increasing intelligence is not necessarily desirable at all.