Creation vs. Evolution

[fire_diver]

Likewise, the biosphere, the colletive action of all living things, may form a massive compuational engine and we would be as oblivious to it as a neuron is to us. We have no way to gauge the computational or creative prowess of other species, or of collectives of species. (No, I'm not smoking anything) .

Soooo, we know the answer is "42", but we have not yet found the question? And then, the meaning of life (all life, not just human) is to find the question?

FD

 

[bwerb]

What we really just don't know is the inner world of any creatures besides ourselves...
Get it? Good.

R

yes, so what we are left with is evidence of inner dialogue and expression...again I have to conclude that humanity is entirely unique in this regard...therefore I have to ask why? What good or purpose does all of this ability pose?

 

[wreckchick]

My guess is something to do with creativity. Finding unique solutions to old and new problems. It is somewhat unique, but not just to humans to be able to extrapolate solutions based on prior experience.

This is a chimp example, but work with me. Chimps use long slender sticks to "fish" for termites. It's not a huge leap to think that they started with fingers and found something that is "like" a finger but longer to get deeper into the termite mound. If the orginator of this trick couldn't see a similarity between a finger and a stick, it wouldn't have happened.

R

 

[bwerb]

My guess is something to do with creativity. Finding unique solutions to old and new problems. It is somewhat unique, but not just to humans to be able to extrapolate solutions based on prior experience.

This is a chimp example, but work with me. Chimps use long slender sticks to "fish" for termites. It's not a huge leap to think that they started with fingers and found something that is "like" a finger but longer to get deeper into the termite mound. If the orginator of this trick couldn't see a similarity between a finger and a stick, it wouldn't have happened.

R

So given millions of years of evolution, why are they still fishing for termites with sticks while we are conversing in cyberspace?

 

[wreckchick]

Why are they still living in a relatively unmolested self-sustaining environment while we're doing our best to destroy the entire planet?

R

 

[lamont]

A lot of people seem to be confusing consciousness, self-awareness, language and intelligence. They are all very different...

 

[bwerb]

Yes they are...however they are for the most part (intelligence is a bit deeper) traits which are uniquely expressed by humans.

 

[lamont]

Yes they are...however they are for the most part (intelligence is a bit deeper) traits which are uniquely expressed by humans.

I doubt that consciousness is only human, I also doubt that self-awareness is only human, language is the one that is largely human (as distinct from communication), and "intelligence" seems a little nebulous...

 

[bwerb]

Why are they still living in a relatively unmolested self-sustaining environment while we're doing our best to destroy the entire planet?

R

I don't know...but I do know that I can have a dialogue about it while they simply sit by and let life happen. They have no idea about the "state of the world" nor would I expect they really care about anything other than eat, sleep, reproduce. (Sure you can talk about evidence of primate intelligence, tools, emotions etc...none of it equates to even a shadow of what we are as humans, that we alone as a species can study other species, talk, create, imagine, reflect, feel remorse, etc. clearly sets us apart from any other species on this planet.)

 

[bwerb]

I doubt that consciousness is only human, I also doubt that self-awareness is only human, language is the one that is largely human (as distinct from communication), and "intelligence" seems a little nebulous...

Show me evidence of animal self awareness. If all traits are a product of some evolutionary process, why among all animal species have humans developed the ability to use higher reason?