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 humanities/philosophy and society and culture/ religion and spirituality.

Answer 1

Good points. However evolution involves changes that adapt a creature (or plant) better to its environment. Perhaps tigers evolved better claws and birds better beaks or wings. You have evolved to a point where you can type better questions than (most?) apes. Evolution should be explored in terms of just what has evolved and what advantages/disadvantages accrue. I believe that the human mind (when properly used) is one of the greatest evolutions of the Universe as we presently know it, even more stunning than the supernovas that supplied many of the heavier elements long ago required to construct it. No other creatures on earth even try to understand the Universe. We are at the top rung of that ladder even if there are better swimmer or runners, right?

Answer 2

in spite of the undeniable fact that we declare to be exceedingly progressed, we don't specify HOW we are greater then different animals. Its a trick they use in promoting. for example, they say that a telephone is the main suitable telephone in different catergories as suggested by way of foremost researchers. besides the fact that, in case you look up what the catergories particularly ARE, they are meaningless issues, alongside with Coolest font for the digits and maximum suitable calculator. So why do we use an promoting trick to describe ourselves? Its sorta perplexing to place into words. do no longer you often go with to have the main suitable vehicle, the main suitable television, and so on. and so on. Then whilst there are 2 TVs that are extremely similiar and theres no real maximum suitable, do no longer maximum folk basically argue theres is greater powerful? Its because of the fact we could like the main suitable for ourselves. additionally, we can evaluate that theres no opposing argument. in case you are able to desire to declare your self king and no you will even think of to oppose you, would not you? it particularly is exactly what human beings are doing. As for WHY we expect of we are better alongside, theres a super quote from Inherit the Wind: Matthew Harrison Brady: We shouldn't abandon faith! faith is the main severe element! Henry Drummond: Then why did God plague us with the means to think of? Mr. Brady, why do you deny the only element that gadgets above the different animals? What different advantage have we? The elephant is better, the pony greater suitable and swifter, the butterfly greater suitable, the mosquito greater prolific, even the sponge is greater good. Or does a sponge think of? you're suitable, some animals have progressed greater powerful then us in different factors, yet we can think of, and because we can we expect of that questioning is the main suitable trait to have. after all, we've ruled the international and controlled factors of nature because of the fact we can think of. If butterflies had the concepts to attain this, they could think of they have been the main suitable animal because of the fact they are the main perfect.

Answer 3

Maybe you can ask a tree or a roach this question. Seriously though, we are able to conceptualize and convey ideas in a way that other known forms of life are not able to.

Answer 4

you really can't, but humans have always had a need to feel superior to all other things to justify the rape of the evirnoment we've pulled off. if you look at the bible, it says specifically that humans are dominant over all other species. just about all religions continually do the "holier-than-thou" routine and we continually look to find people who are better at one thing or another (american idol, chemistry olympiads, football games, etc.).

Answer 5

These days, we don't. The old "ladder of complexity" went out of style about 150 years ago.

Answer 6

I make no such claim, and I'm an evolutionary biologist by trade.

Answer 7

Good biologists don't say this. Here's a useful resource on this fallacy, or more properly "holdover":

http://www.homepages.ed.ac.uk/snee/chain.pdf

Answer 8

how do we know that dolphins or crows aren't smarter than us but they know of the consequences or complications they might create or face so they don't build massive cities or machines?