[Atlas Sneezed]

In genetic terms, this kind of extreme stress can be a great thing for a species, as only the very fittest (especially mentally resourceful) survive.

What nearly killed us probably made us much smarter.

[CzarNicky]

and yet we still have liberals.

[UCANSEE2]

“What nearly killed us probably made us much smarter.”

---

Which is why we now think we are responsible for the weather on Earth, and that we can control it. (/sarc)

[allmendream]

I think the selective pressure was more likely geographic than intellectual. It probably reduced our genetic diversity as a species such that many of the genes that could have gone into a ‘super genius’ were lost, but overall the average intelligence of the population was most likely unchanged, just less diverse.

Evolution doesn’t denote advancement just change in response to selective pressure, and the change might be something that is as much a mixed blessing as sickle cell anemia.