As to the evolution of our senses as a factor in the survival of our species: our senses, e.g., of smell, vision and hearing are quite poor compared to many other animals. Do you think in the course of evolution we lost some of the capabilites of our senses, compared to other species relatively close to us in the evolutionary tree, which implies a common ancestor ? How would having poorer vision, hearing and smell improve our species' chances of survival ?
Also, humans are able to survive short-term in space and in ocean deeps, despite never having previously had to. How do you think those capabilities evolved without subjecting our ancestors to a relevant selection pressure ?
What is/was the evolutionary advantage which selected us, but no other primate, for loss of body hair ?
My point: I think it is a mistake to assume that our characteristics are all the result of selection for short-term survival advantages.
Humans are very poorly designed for under water survival. If you were to simply quickly go underwater(like just shoot down to 50 feet) you would very likely die. We can't survive simply going into deep water. Our bodies have numerous flaws. In order to get to deep water we have to equalize ourselves numerous times on the way down and we can only stay for a very limited time anyway. Plus, some people cant even do that. Its all about luck really. Our deep water survival skills are pretty poor.
On body hair, there is a separate thread on that I believe, but it is advantageous over long distances(a human could outrun almost any animal over a long distance.) and allot less hot.
On senses, we have a unique set of senses, not neccesarily poorer. Senses require energy and effort to focus on, large amounts of unneccesary sense information would NOT be evolutionarily beneficial. If you look at animals with more developed senses, they have considerably larger brain areas which control those functions. Furthermore, those senses are not really neccesary for humans niche. We have decent development for every sense, just nothing super exeptional, because it would not be needed for us.
Now, this all assumes we have an evolutionary standpoint. If an all powerful being was in charge, there is no real reason not to give us our current intellegence and super developed senses.
Edited by Admin, : Fix quote.
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