This was an interesting idea raised by Neil De Grasse Tyson (check him out). We all know that our genes, and that of chimps is roughly only 2% different. Now in that 2% we have the ability to read, write, speak/learn language, attempt to understand quantum mechanics and make all the accomplishments we have as a species.
Now imagine we venture into space and find an alien species, imagine they have developed upon the same evoloutionary pressures as our planet. Now these aliens have another 2% difference in their DNA, what would they be able to do as second nature, would quantum mechanics simply be 2+2=4 to them, and would we now be the animals confined to research by this species.
I think it's interesting to think about, that even with all our evolutionary and scientific advantages on earth, are we simply smart in our own terms.
We're not smart per say, we're just the best communicators and builders.
We define what 'smart' means, so by our definition, yes we are.
But yeah, this is your point. You said it yourself.
Also, we have scales of 'smart'. So a super advanced alien would just be smarter.
Smart doesn't even look like a word any more.
That answer to that question is philosophically indepth. So much so that it would require an essay or dissertation on itself.
It will be hard to get a good answer here that answers it.
From what we know now, yes we are smart, though I'm sure in the future we will be outsmarted.
We have the biggest brain!
[QUOTE=Rysoke24;18974025]From what we know now, yes we are smart, though I'm sure in the future we will be outsmarted.[/QUOTE]
Not sure why i am getting dumbs, i was just wondering what the facepunchers thought of the concept.
We're smart enough to call ourselves smart.
Could be arrogance though.
[QUOTE=Occlusion;18974052]Not sure why i am getting dumbs, i was just wondering what the facepunchers thought of the concept.[/QUOTE]
An alien species thats smart enough that quantum mechanics is 2 + 2 = 4 to them would tower us in intelligence, we'd be infinitely primitive compared to them.
[QUOTE=madjawa;18974041]We have the biggest brain![/QUOTE]
Brain size doesn't translate to better intelligence, just more capacity.
Until dolphins build particle accelerators or come up with a unified theory, yes, we are the smartes species on this planet.
[QUOTE=Seb McMeb;18974061]We're smart enough to call ourselves smart.
Could be arrogance though.[/QUOTE]
I don't know. Maybe dogs have a bark that means smart and we don't fit it's definition.
Probably not though. Dogs are pretty stupid.
[QUOTE=Majache;18974070]Brain size doesn't translate to better intelligence, just more capacity.[/QUOTE]
Large hard drive with small amount of ram and cpu.
[QUOTE=Killoch0;18974093]Until dolphins build particle accelerators or come up with a unified theory, yes, we are the smartes species on this planet.[/QUOTE]
Well, like I said, that's the ability to pass on knowledge, not just intelligence.
[editline]11:39PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Takkun10;18974107]Large hard drive with small amount of ram and cpu.[/QUOTE]
You could say that.
[QUOTE=Occlusion;18974052]Not sure why i am getting dumbs, i was just wondering what the facepunchers thought of the concept.[/QUOTE]
You're most likely getting dumb ratings from people who expect a sex related thread or something involving no brains. I agreed with you, a nice question imo.
-Snip-
[QUOTE=Killoch0;18974093]Until dolphins build particle accelerators or come up with a unified theory, yes, we are the smartes species on this planet.[/QUOTE]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG6b3V2MNxQ[/media]
[QUOTE=Occlusion;18974052]Not sure why i am getting dumbs, i was just wondering what the facepunchers thought of the concept.[/QUOTE]
Because you don't understand how genetics work. The 2% difference between people and chimps' DNA isn't a measure of intelligence, it just means there's a 2% difference.
The quantum mechanics thing doesn't come from us being 2% different, it comes from us having a brain that's 400% as big. And that difference is relegated to a tiny fraction of a percent of our DNA. If anything, us being mostly related to chimps is WHY we're so smart--apes already have a very powerful brain capable of serious cognitive thought.
[img]http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/NatSci102/images/allman1a.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=winsanity;18974150]We are a young species, we have much to learn.[/QUOTE]
stop trying to sound philosophical, you're bad at it.
[QUOTE=Majache;18974117]Well, like I said, that's the ability to pass on knowledge, not just intelligence.
[/QUOTE]
Listen, dolphins and monkeys problem is not that they can't communicate their ideas on the theory of relativity, it's that they cannot comprehend it to begin with.
Uh, yes. We have nothing to compare to. You don't compare a pistol in power to a non-existant laser-gun. So consider even if life exists 99.99999% are going to be single cell organisms or some kind of alien animal, with no intellegence besides eat/reproduce. We can't call ourselves stupid, even if we do fight, but that is nature.
So yes, we are the smartest species we know of.
We're intellegent, not smart. In comparison to some of nature, we're dense as pig shit. But still intellegent.
[QUOTE=TH89;18974163]Because you don't understand how genetics work. The 2% difference between people and chimps' DNA isn't a measure of intelligence, it just means there's a 2% difference.
The quantum mechanics thing doesn't come from us being 2% different, it comes from us having a brain that's 400% as big.
[img]http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/NatSci102/images/allman1a.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]
just because we have more gray matter doesn't mean we're smarter than them
We figured out the laws of physics, didn't we? I mean, who cars if they break when trying to figure out black holes. Fuck black holes.
[QUOTE=Noob_Reaper;18974211]just because we have more gray matter doesn't mean we're smarter than them[/QUOTE]
Um yeah it does
[QUOTE=Spartex;18974205]We're intellegent, not smart. In comparison to some of nature, we're dense as pig shit. But still intellegent.[/QUOTE]
what the fuck are you talking about
intelligence is smartness, the latter is just a more casual word
[QUOTE=Spartan8907;18974238]Fuck black holes.[/QUOTE]
:smug:
I'm not very smart, I don't have a fucking clue what anyone is talking about.
[QUOTE=TH89;18974240]Um yeah it does[/QUOTE]
ok blue whales have a lot more gray matter than us are they smarter than a human
[QUOTE=Noob_Reaper;18974251]ok blue whales have a lot more gray matter than us are they smarter than a human[/QUOTE]
Blue whales aren't primates
And they have less gray matter proportional to body mass
Don't try to be smart please
[QUOTE=TH89;18974271]Blue whales aren't primates
And they have less gray matter proportional to body mass
Don't try to be smart please[/QUOTE]
read my statement and your answer again- there was no mention of gray matter in relation to genus nor body mass
i don't have to try, there's no effort required for me like there is for you.
Ironically, human babies are among the stupidest creatures in the animal kingdom.
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