rabbitoh07 wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 6:39am:



I do not think we are incredibly similar to chimpanzees.
They have nothing like manufacturing, history or architecture or internet forums.

The point is this: despite a genetic closeness, they are unbelievably far from us, so far that no 4 million years of evolution can explain it because all the other apes - gorillas, orangutans, chimps - are not as distant from each other as they are all from us. They all had the exact same 4 million years and they have moved not very far from one another.
We, on the other hand, have covered an incredible stretch that no other species has ever managed.

Soren wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 7:30pm:


How would we know if we couldn't communicate with them?

http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/dolphinbrainandintelligence.html

Well evolutionary paths are generally determined by environmental constraints.

It might just be a case of being in the right place at the right time. The cranial capacity of homo sapiens increased 2.5 fold during the course of the  glaciations, which started about 2.5 million years ago.

It was a period where considerable ingenuity was required to find food and survive, so some have suggested that the most intelligent were most able to survive. Another suggestion was that the more intelligent males were able to keep females amused during the long winters.

Here is another article that suggests that it was all about the inability of human beings to produce Vitamin C internally.

http://www4.dr-rath-foundation.org/THE_FOUNDATION/About_Dr_Matthias_Rath/publica...

Whatever actually caused the increase in intelligence, it was likely due to environmental constraints of one type or another.

Soren wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 8:48pm:


Same environment? Well no -  for one thing, homo ergaster left Africa for a more temperate climate.  So the ancestors of modern man  left the other hominids in Africa and were later caught up in a series of glaciations. During the transition from homo ergaster to homo erectus to archaic homo sapiens, average cranial capacities increased.

Writing is an extremely modern phenomenon (about 4000 years BC), but it was regarded as being almost magical in many cases. (Think of the Runes for example) It had an almost magical effect in increasing populations too, because with writing, organised trade suddenly became possible.   

In terms of biological evolution, we're no different biologically from those humans who never developed writing.  In social evolutionary terms though, societies that developed writing were miles ahead. 

If you look at the development of writing, these were the periods of rapid development and demographic growth. 

Yadda wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 8:42am:


With respect, no. I don't want to argue against your faith regardless of how many holes I see in your arguments.  It comes down to a time investment on my part, and no direct benefit.  Some people need a faith. I think you do, so I'll leave SOB to play Don Quixote.

I'm content to sit on my mountain top while you sit on yours.

Soren wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 8:48pm:

We are virtually identical to other apes such as bonobos and chimpanzees.

Please don't mistake your ignorance as a basis for argument.

rabbitoh07 wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 9:53pm:


The Chimpanzee genome is certainly the most similar to that of homo sapiens, but we're quite different. The most important difference is the lack of cranial hemisphere specialisation and the significantly lower cranial capacity which is comparable with that of Australopithecus Afarensis (Lucy).

The Pan genus and homo genus evolved from a common ancestor.

He won't admit it, but I think Soren is an atheist.  I think he just likes taking people to task. 

muso wrote on Nov 4^th, 2012 at 10:07pm:

Yes.  The Pan genus and homo genus evolved from a common ancestor.  And this happened far more recently than the Gorilla genus evolved from a common ancestor of the Pan and Homo genuses.

I know the significance of this will be lost on most people who think there is an arguement here - but it doesn't hurt to give them facts.  Even if they don't understand them.