Origin of Reason

[dam prayer noobs]

How did humans attain the ability to reason? How come we are the only species on this planet that has developed a complex system of language and writing, and are able to delve into such subjects like philosophy and ethics, and use the scientific method to help us understand the world around us? Could it be an evolutionary mutation that has propelled the survival of our species and is now permanently inscribed in our genes? Or are our bodies simply suits designed to carry the soul through this world so we can learn and prepare for something bigger?

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

How did humans attain the ability to reason? How come we are the only species on this planet that has developed a complex system of language and writing, and are able to delve into such subjects like philosophy and ethics, and use the scientific method to help us understand the world around us? Could it be an evolutionary mutation that has propelled the survival of our species and is now permanently inscribed in our genes? Or are our bodies simply suits designed to carry the soul through this world so we can learn and prepare for something bigger?

We are the most complex species on this planet, at the moment, we are the only beings that have such a complex system of writing, the most complex body system, and much more, etc.

However, we are NOT the most intelligent. We evolved from primates and our genes and genetics built on to getting more intelligent, we were somehow faster in developing instincts, evolving, and developing muscle. In my eyes, this is one thing yet to be researched on.

 

[dam prayer noobs]

We are the most complex species on this planet, at the moment, we are the only beings that have such a complex system of writing, the most complex body system, and much more, etc.

However, we are NOT the most intelligent. We evolved from primates and our genes and genetics built on to getting more intelligent, we were somehow faster in developing instincts, evolving, and developing muscle. In my eyes, this is one thing yet to be researched on.

What creature on earth is more intelligent than a human?

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

What creature on earth is more intelligent than a human?

Dolphins are proven to be more intelligent than humans.

 

[dam prayer noobs]

Dolphins are proven to be more intelligent than humans.

Lol what? Dolphins have the intellectual brain power of a 3 year old. When we find underwater civilizations of dolphins, give me a call, and I'll consider them smarter than us.

 

[Schnell]

Dolphins are proven to be more intelligent than humans.

Prove it then.

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

Prove it then.

http://www.valdostamuseum.org/hamsmith/Dolphin.html

# MYTH Dolphins are as smart or smarter than humans
# FACT The two are not comparable in areas like problem-solving and language, but the dolphin's brain is extremely good at the things it does well, like processing acoustic information.

EDIT: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061128215146AAXDYdA lmfao at the answers: No. They live underwater and breathe air. What dumbasses.

 

[FreedomFight]

@OP

I agree, the ability for our species, to spontaneous reason, is a puzzling factor. But I'm not going to jump the gun and immediately associate it with a higher power.

Dolphins are proven to be more intelligent than humans.

You'd have to be seriously retarded to believe that. Or seriously retarded for that to be true. Or both for that matter.

 

[Blind_man_34]

We are the most complex species on this planet, at the moment, we are the only beings that have such a complex system of writing, the most complex body system, and much more, etc.

However, we are NOT the most intelligent. We evolved from primates and our genes and genetics built on to getting more intelligent, we were somehow faster in developing instincts, evolving, and developing muscle. In my eyes, this is one thing yet to be researched on.

yeah, i agree

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

yeah, i agree

Please don't post just that in a forum, especially the SFA.

Our reason became because we were intelligent enough to understand and develop different things.

 

[dam prayer noobs]

The ability to reason is a gradient, and not something that is simply "attained." Humans are not differentiated by their ability to reason, but by their superior ability to reason when compared to dogs.

But why is our ability to reason so much more superior than other species? Why do they trail so far behind? It's like having a bunch of birds that can fly at 50-100 mph, and then one species of bird that can fly at supersonic speeds. Plus, some of our reasoning abilities have nothing to do with survival, therefore they are not affected by evolution. What does thinking about philosophy and the reason for our existence have to do with putting food on our table?

 

[dam prayer noobs]

Self-awareness isn't as black and white as you would have us believe.
Supreme intellect (enabling complex verbal communication, etc.) will manifest itself through supreme reasoning. We are more intelligent than animals by a large degree, but that intelligence isn't without correlation to reason.

So you're saying that our self-awareness is a byproduct of advanced reasoning. Interesting.

It's just strange to me though that no other animal has developed this ability of advanced reasoning.

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

In a sense.

Well, it depends on your definition of "advanced." I believe that if there were extraterrestrials that were exponentially more intelligent, their skills of reason would be correlated with their intelligence. The relationship between these extraterrestrials' reasoning skills and those of humans would be similar to the relationship between humans' and dogs' reasoning skills. When viewed from this perspective, it makes a bit more sense.

Intelligence isn't the same thing as reasoning. In knowledge terms, reasoning goes under problem-solving. As I posted earlier, dolphins are as intelligent as humans, they may not be comparable in problem-solving skills, they are superior in other knowledge functions.

 

[The Riddler_]

Please don't post just that in a forum, especially the SFA.

Our reason became because we were intelligent enough to understand and develop different things.

You try to hard.

@OP

I agree, the ability for our species, to spontaneous reason, is a puzzling factor. But I'm not going to jump the gun and immediately associate it with a higher power.

Yea, it really is. One of the main things I noticed is that there was a jump. Because if we did developed from chimps, then how far down the line did we achieve the ability to reason.

 

[Zak_rs2]

Could be a mixture of luck and natural selection.

Other animals can communicate, just clearly not in the same way we can, Parrots have the ability to mimmic human words, and can trigger words can be said by saying a word to the parrot - i.e *polly wana cracker?* Parrot: *yes*

Although, parrots have to be trained to be able to do this to a greater extent, could natural selection cause parots to become smarter then humans and take over the world? :huh:

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

So they're able to read, write, and solve mathematical equations as well as a human?
Intelligence and reasoning are obviously closely correlated. Don't try to say otherwise.

I didn't say they were far apart. Mathematical equation: 5+10, that would be referred to as a math problem, thus going under problem solving.

You know what I mean. I'm not the best at explaining things.

 

[Swan]

So you're saying that our self-awareness is a byproduct of advanced reasoning. Interesting.

It's just strange to me though that no other animal has developed this ability of advanced reasoning.

Okay, this thread makes my brain bleed.

Humans are not the only creatures with advanced reasoning.

 

[Sup3r 4ut03r]

Then where does intelligence come into play, exactly?

Secondly, we have superior reasoning to other known animals, but what makes us "advanced?"

The intelligence comes into play where they need it. They are superior in intelligence to what they need to do.

We are advanced as in, we are able to prove, disprove, argue, etc., but we are not too far advanced than some animals.

 

[dam prayer noobs]

Okay, this thread makes my brain bleed.

Humans are not the only creatures with advanced reasoning.

Okay, when we find other animals debating ethics and philosophy, give me a call and I might acknowledge their reasoning skills.

The intelligence comes into play where they need it. They are superior in intelligence to what they need to do.

We are advanced as in, we are able to prove, disprove, argue, etc., but we are not too far advanced than some animals.

I was talking about intelligence on the philosophical level; ethics, constructive thinking, etc.

 

[Rabs]

Could be a mixture of luck and natural selection.

Other animals can communicate, just clearly not in the same way we can, Parrots have the ability to mimmic human words, and can trigger words can be said by saying a word to the parrot - i.e *polly wana cracker?* Parrot: *yes*

Although, parrots have to be trained to be able to do this to a greater extent, could natural selection cause parots to become smarter then humans and take over the world? :huh:

Natural selection, yes.

We have the genetic code in our bodies that allow us to be able to think within reason, and act upon that thought. There may be other species in the world that are 'smarter than us' capably, but it is the homo-sapiens that are able to take this ability and develop it.
The definition of 'smart’, is tossed around so vigorously.

Are elephants smarter than us, because the have the memory as grand or if not more grand than a computer?

Are squirrels smarter than us because they are able to collect 250 nuts in less than 3 days?

Are dogs and cats smarter because they are able to sense danger from a mile away?

Every species has there own ability - humans have developed over time to use the earth's resources, to a far greater extent than animals.