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Author Topic:   Can ToE explain human Brain development?
Larni
Member (Idle past 164 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


(2)
Message 11 of 47 (529715)
10-10-2009 7:55 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by Peg
10-10-2009 4:44 AM


Re: Too many topics
Peq writes:
If we are simply animals along a long evolutionary chain, we are no different to them and should not exhibit the traits we do.
This is of course incorrect. Why should this assertion be so? Your implication is that we possess something special that other animals do not have.
This is true: but many animals have something that is unique to them. For humans it is the abstract cognitive ability of our brains.
For elephants it is their dexterous manipulative trunk.
For spiders it is their ability to construct cunning snares out of silk.
Can you see where I'm going with this? The fact that humans have abilities at a different level to other animals (for better or worse, remember) is no challenge to ToE.
Peq writes:
This brings us back to my earlier question, Why does the human brain have such a vast intellect? What purpose does it serve in evolutionary terms.
Our cognitive ability allows us to plan for the future and anticipate complex situations that are yet to happen; we can predict what is possible.
If we can predict a negative situation and avoid it we improve our chances of survival.
I'm sure you can fill in the dots from here.
Ever worried? Ask your self what worry is; it's a negative prediction about the future. Our brains are wired to work this way because if we are worrying about lions in the long grass we will avoid the long grass and stay alive long enough to breed.
This is so because only the cautious worry ridden humans of pre history survived to breed (as their less cautious comrades got picked off through the generations).
So there you have it: being clever is as useful to survival as being able to build webs or detect sonar or generate bioelectricity or fly or inject poison or track by scent or............

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Peg, posted 10-10-2009 4:44 AM Peg has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by Peg, posted 10-10-2009 8:37 AM Larni has replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 164 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 21 of 47 (529758)
10-10-2009 11:21 AM
Reply to: Message 15 by Peg
10-10-2009 8:37 AM


Brain evolution
but it seems we have developed a brain with a capacity that is far greater then our needs.
What makes you think that this is true? By this logic the Mink is too successful as well because it 'too good' for it's environment (when it was accidently introduced into the UK by do gooders).
By that logic the cat and the rat are 'too good' at what they do (when introduced into Oz).
The point is that our brains did not evolve towards a specific level of capability.
You've been told before evolution has no 'aim'. Once a trait is selected for it will keep being selected until it is no longer of benefit for the organism in question.
We cannot be 'too good' because the is no point in which evolution stops unless one removes the selection pressures.
A bit it off topic but worry is what I'm currently researching into so here are the bare bones facts:
Worry is a verbal thought process.
Worry is a deliberate act selected to reduce ANS arousal.
It is anticipatory and negative.
I would be very surprised if non verbal animals worry in the way we do, but if some animals in fact do have a language then I guess they could worry like we do.
this one im not so sure about for the reason that humans have a tendency to do things that they know are dangerous.
While this is true it is only true for individuals. For populations it is not true.
but generally speaking, animals work to keep themselves safe
This statement hold equally true of humans in general.
how does dangerous behavior fit into the ToE?
When I was a lad we would pull wheelies in front of the girls and climb up barnyard walls bash the hell out of each other with sticks with the sole intent of impressing the girls.
Take this habit into adult life and you become what text books often call a 'fanny magnet'.
They seem to be confined in their ability to learn new things...and mostly it seems they are programmed for life. I would like to see some research articles on that one if you know any.
Take a look at how clever Rooks are!
Clever rooks have sense of gravity | New Scientist
Edited by Larni, : Rooks and sub title.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 15 by Peg, posted 10-10-2009 8:37 AM Peg has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 22 by Peg, posted 10-10-2009 9:13 PM Larni has replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 164 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


(1)
Message 32 of 47 (529955)
10-11-2009 9:17 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by Peg
10-10-2009 9:13 PM


Re: More Brain power then is necessary
Why would we need a limitless memory when we only live for up to 100 years?
You can't talk in terms of need!
We did not evolve great memory because we needed it!
The fact that we have an 'almost unlimited capacity to recall' is because our brains make new connections when we memorise something new. This is an inevitable consequence of how our brain evolved, not why our brains evolved!
Edited by Larni, : Punctuation

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by Peg, posted 10-10-2009 9:13 PM Peg has not replied

  
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