Why do we claim to be the 'most highly' evolved creatures? isn't this a skewed standard? Most trees can claim

Question

to be evolved to a higher altitude than most humans. Roaches can claim that they finished evolving long ago. Viruses can claim to be evolving faster than we are. Why do we think we are more highly evolved than anything? What makes us think that this supposedly random process has a direction that we can discern and arrogantly claim that we are further along than anything else on earth? Isn't this a circular definition of evolution? How do we define "Most High"?

I have asked this same question under science/other and society and culture/ religion and spirituality.

Answer 1

The fact that we've evolved an ego large enough to believe that we are a supreme species.

Answer 2

Although we claim to be highly evolved, we don't specify HOW we are higher then other animals. Its a trick they use in advertising. For example, they say that a phone is the best phone in multiple catergories as said by leading researchers. However, if you look up what the catergories actually ARE, they are meaningless things, such as Coolest font for the digits and best calculator.

So why do we use an advertising trick to describe ourselves? Its sorta hard to put into words. Don't you always want to have the best car, the best tv, etc. etc. Then when there are two TVs that are quite similiar and theres no real best, don't most people just argue theres is better? Its because we want the best for ourselves.

Also, we can take into account that theres no opposing argument. If you could declare yourself king and no one would even think to oppose you, wouldn't you? That is exactly what humans are doing.

As for WHY we think we are further along, theres a great quote from Inherit the Wind:
Matthew Harrison Brady: We must not abandon faith! Faith is the most important thing!
Henry Drummond: Then why did God plague us with the capacity to think? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the one thing that sets above the other animals? What other merit have we? The elephant is larger, the horse stronger and swifter, the butterfly more beautiful, the mosquito more prolific, even the sponge is more durable. Or does a sponge think?

You're right, some animals have evolved better then us in different aspects, but we can think, and since we can we think that thinking is the best trait to have. After all, we have dominated the world and controlled aspects of nature because we can think. If butterflies had the brain to do so, they would think they were the best animal because they are the most beautiful.

Answer 3

To use the term 'highly evolved', or 'most evolved' means you don't understand your terms very well. Evolution doesn't have a goal, or a plan, that's now how it works.
There is no 'most', or 'highest'.
Evolution is simply the term to define the fact that 'those who have offspring have a greater affect on the future then those who don't'
For example, if (as reality TV might lead some to believe) intelligence became a negative trait for reproduction, then it could eventually fade away. This would not be 'de-volving' (a sci-fi term at best) it would simply be the result of our species adapting to whatever circumstances would favor the less intelligent.

To say something like roaches 'stopped evolving' is another fallacy. Everything that breeds is part of the process of evolution, as long as it's descendants vary from their parents in any fashion. The fact that they do not 'attain the ability to vote for their favorite American Idol' or some crazy thing is not a sign that they haven't evolved, only that this specific trait is not important in determining which roach will get to pass it's DNA onto the next generation.

Answer 4

I think what you're getting at is that saying "most highly evolved" isn't the correct wording, and I agree with you, it's not. Everything evolves along different paths, and ours so far has led us here, its no higher or lower than anything else; it just "is."
I guess humans think we have achieved a higher evolution because we think "that because we are able to think" that must have been really specialized and hard to obtain; therefore declaring us "higher" than others. However we have no real proof other organisms cannot think (or do we?)
When things evolve they end up going along the right path for them. True, some organisms have not evolved much, because they have not had a need to change. We could say that humans are "more evolved" than sharks meaning that we have changed more so than they have since life began on Earth, but to say that our path is "higher" than any other is just an ego trip. We'll see who survives the longest...... (or maybe we won't be around....)

Answer 5

Being "highly evolved" isn't simply a matter of being well adapted to a particular situation. In that respect, microscopic lifeforms have nothing to be ashamed of. Where they fall short is in the area of complexity – and this is what "highly evolved," in its most meaningful sense, denotes. It is the astonishing complexity of human brains that makes us unique on this planet; it's also this that has enabled us to achieve our technological dominance, which has the potential to place us outside of the evolutionary system altogether. Human beings are so highly evolved that, someday soon, we might transcend evolution itself. Compared to an attribute like that, height or eight or running speed or even tenacity begins to seem like rather a trifle. Wouldn't you say?

Answer 6

We seem to be the smartest, and have an opposable thumb, otherwise we are much less evolved than many creatures, which is part of our flexibility. Could be that the leprechauns are more highly evolved, and have the sense to stay out of sight.

Answer 7

We define most highly evolved by the fact that we are aware that we evolved. We have no evidence that trees, or roaches, or viruses, have any concept of time, or change, or anything. We think, therefore we are....evolved.

Answer 8

reliable factors. besides the fact that evolution is composed of alterations that adapt a creature (or plant) greater powerful to its environment. perchance tigers progressed greater powerful claws and birds greater powerful beaks or wings. you have progressed to a element the place you are able to type greater powerful questions than (maximum?) apes. Evolution must be explored in terms of basically what has progressed and what advantages/destructive aspects accrue. i've got faith that the human concepts (whilst good used) is between the main suitable evolutions of the Universe as we on the instant comprehend it, much greater impressive than the supernovas that offered many of the heavier components before required to construct it. No different creatures in the international even attempt to comprehend the Universe. we are on the suited rung of that ladder besides the fact that if there are greater powerful swimmer or runners, suitable?

Answer 9

I think you have answered your own question.
You say that "trees can claim ..." "Roaches can claim..."
But you know that they CAN'T claim anything.
The ability to CLAIM something lies with humans alone. So until roaches can rise up and debate with humans that they are the most highly evolved, the humans' assertion will go unchallenged.

Answer 10

I guess we claim so because we have an amazing ability. Our brain can outperform all other animals/plants/life forms. We create theories and learn and communicate effectively. We created math and we know history. That in itself can be seen as evolution -the ability of our brain to form bridges and ideas. Other than that, we're pretty weak. We have very little defensive mechanisms against other animals and we lack an exoskeleton. But hey, we're smart, so we created weapons and martial arts and other forms of fighting. That there is an example of evolution.