[quote1247261208=nanrek!]
... If the environment had been too harsh we would have become extinct before natural selection could have favored greater intelligence. If, on the other hand, the environment had been too lenient we would not have developed the level of intelligence we have today.
... Could our universe become an AI machine that directs its own cosmic evolution? Would a super-intelligent universe be a pantheistic entity? Although such an outcome is improbable I don't think it is logically and physically impossible.
[/quote1247261208]
Xanadu's linked article provided an amazing perspective regarding intelligence, viewed from the eye of Evolutionary Biologist.
scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2009/07...e_nervous_system.php
First of all, every organisme can have neuron gene, but not all of them develop neurons. For example; sponge don't develop neurons because they don't need it, sponge are happy with their sedentary lifestyle.
Second, most organisme did develop neurons, but not all develop central nervous system. For example; only vertebrate develop central nervous system. Trait that create central nervous system evolve independently from the trait that create the neurons. We can say that; the mutation that develop centralized structure also develop a centralized nervous system.
So... the centralize trait co-exist with neuron trait to create a centralize nervous system. But, we also need to acknowledge that; mutation that create a patterned structure existed earlier than the mutation that develop centralize structure. That mean; the trait can't evolve simulataneously, it need to occur in sequence, i.e: neurons --> pattern --> organization. Centralization is an added behaviour to the previous behaviour.
Third, the genes for neurons evolved due to the need for cells to communicate. Therefore, the brain orginate from those needs. So we can say that; intelligence is caused by brain, which caused by organization of neurons, which caused by the existent of communication between neurons. Since intelligence start with having a brain, and ended up as being caused by the need for communication. Therefore; the fundamentals of intelligence is communication.
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I would say that; this universe is always communicating with its component.
Stars are effected by other stars by gravity. This gravity is the means for communication. Galaxy are also effected by other galaxy, but not by individual stars. So... there's a selectivity in the communication, which almost looks like neurons. Neurons, for example, only connected with its nearest neighbor, not with every neurons. But I don't see a brain in our universe, I don't see an organized structure in our universe, the galaxies looks like a sponge to me. (galaxy are scattered all over the universe like sand on the beach)
- I believe
this universe is a sponge, so it isn't intelligent.
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"Leniency can create intelligence and can impedes them", I agree.
Sponge's life is too sedentary, so it doesn't need a brain. Even if it develop a brain, there's no selective pressure to select a brainier sponge. Sponge are happy even without a brain. So, I GUESS, sponge suppress their DNA recombination process that could create a branier sponge, like how human's Y chromosome was intentionally suppressed from recombining with X chromosome by natural selection, in
fear of losing beneficial male trait.
- Y trait will not evolve any time soon because its recombination is/was supressed.
www.brunel.ac.uk/news/pressoffice/pressr...ber/chromosome090904 (don't worry, Y-chromosome has backup copy)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_chromosome
Bee's life in other hand, is too harsh. It live outside the water, where there's gravitational force at work, it also need to find food, and need to develop a sting. I guess, nature is too harsh with bees, it select bees with energy costing sting, and lack of big brain. Maybe, too harsh environment killed some exotic mutation that may be a precursor to high intelligence.
We on the other hand, is lucky. There's many mutation that favour big brain occuring since the last 500 thousand years. Evolutionary Biologist says; this "many mutation" was a prime-releaser, not the prime-mover of big brain. That mean; the brain cannot grow big without this trait, but it will grow big if you suplied it with artificial sustenance. The primary obstacle is the energy imbalance of the whole organisme caused by big brain and the ensuing overheating. For example; upright posture, smaller gut, hairless body, and blood circulation that cool our head is the trait that enable the continuation of bigger brain. Other trait like social activity, dexterous fingers, good eye, and ect ect, already existed on other primate.
- but the primate are happy with what they are now, so they won't change soon, I guess.
www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-84551...p;script=sci_arttext
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That was just my opinion. I'm not certain if I've done enough reading.
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