Intelligence emerged in homo sapiens by progression but the means it developed remains unclear let alone why.
Some humility is required.
Homo groups were preyed upon by a host of predators, many of which have since died out. Homo Hablis was the choice lunch of various cats in the past as we are still for leopards in the present, although mainly children are captured and eaten. Chimpanzees and gorillas are also the food of choice for leopards. Neanderthals, our close relatives, were hunted down by hyenas. So probably were we.
Did intelligence develop in a weapons race with ancient predators, emerging as we moved out of the forests and became more vulnerable. Walls around cities were first created to keep predators out not human enemies. Most of the animals who predated on us are now gone. Did we remove them?
Thrown rocks, pointed sticks, and finally fire probably brought intelligence arms races with non-hominoid species to an end rather quickly.
Karl,
The fact that probably all human species made Sunday lunch for predators has intrigued me given our vaunted view of ourselves. The idea that ancient settlements' walls were created against floods and predators makes added sense as the countryside around Iruk/Uruk was plagued with lions.
I read about a group of 10 Neanderthals hunted down by a group of hyenas like ordinary prey animals, and that earlier homo species have been found in large numbers in predator dens. The clear evidence is that Neanderthal were extensively preyed on by hyenas in the same way that leopards prey on baboons. Stanley Kubrick's 2001 was based on reality in the past although clearly nothing happened that quickly. I agree though that the invention and creation of weaponry was the important part, and the passing on of this knowledge. The latter ensured the development of language.
How can they tell whether those Neanderthals in the cave were hunted down by hyenas as prey or were merely scavenged from preexisting corpses or carrion?
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