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To: boris
Finally, if intelligence is such a wonderful evolutionary destination, why isn't everything intelligent?...

Because in mother nature you do not get to define the destinations.

14 posted on 09/08/2003 5:41:34 PM PDT by Rudder
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To: Rudder
Because in mother nature you do not get to define the destinations.

Like a fully functioning eye! Throw reasonable probabilities to the wind.

15 posted on 09/08/2003 5:52:05 PM PDT by bondserv
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To: Rudder
>Finally, if intelligence is such a wonderful evolutionary destination, why isn't everything intelligent?...

Because in mother nature you do not get to define the destinations.

I think it's a pretty good question. On the planet, there is one animal who principally survives on the basis of intelligence. Scientists say whales are intelligent. But why is that? And what do they do with their intelligence? Chimps are smart (in a way). But where does it get them?

Intelligence is clearly better than fast legs or sharp claws. Yet, in billions of years, only one animal has evolved intelligence in a way that ensures replication of its genes.

There's something special about Man, I think.

34 posted on 09/08/2003 6:23:21 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (France delenda est)
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To: Rudder
"Because in mother nature you do not get to define the destinations."

As mentioned above, eyes have evolved separately many times. It's good to see.

Echolocation evolved separately in the sea and in (e.g.) bats. It's good to hear.

Flight has evolved in mammals, birds, and fish. It's good to fly.

Color vision evolved in insects and fish. Plants evolved brilliant colors to advertise to insects. It is thought that very few mammals have full color vision: then why does Man prove to be the exception?

36 posted on 09/08/2003 6:27:55 PM PDT by boris (The deadliest Weapon of Mass Destruction in History is a Leftist With a Word Processor)
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