Re:Proposed connection between intelligence and gestation time
by shmageggy on Monday June 06, 2016 @05:08PM
(#11850403)
> ...sounds like a totally unproductive instance of cyclical thinking
Or a positive feedback loop of the kind that is known to drive evolutionary change
Re:Proposed connection between intelligence and gestation time
by taneq on Tuesday June 07, 2016 @02:40AM
(#11852807)
Exactly. Something gives an advantage, is selected for, the organism starts to mould its other attributes around that advantage, and a feedback loop starts. Colloquially, evolution will take a new advantageous feature and 'run with it'.
Re:Proposed connection between intelligence and gestation time
by int_19h on Monday June 06, 2016 @08:45PM
(#11851629)
Because if we were the T-rex, we wouldn't be wondering why we are one, lacking the brains to do so. Meanwhile, other ape species have filled that niche.
Basically, it's just another manifestation of the anthropic principle.
Yes, but why intelligence in particular? Why don't we have some other advantage, like huge size, humongous teeth, a face like Godzilla? Why are we the smart-arses of the animal kingdom and not just another T-Rex?
"We're smart 'cause our babies are born early and our babies are born early because we're smart", incidentally, sounds like a totally unproductive instance of cyclical thinking.