why did it take so long for high intelligence to evolve? w?

Answer 1

Well, look at what has to happen. Starting with bacteria, which are single celled and don't have any organelles in the cells, the cells have to
1) Form a symbiosis to make eukaryotic cells (ones with nuclei)
2) Evolve to interact with each other for multi-cellular organisms.
Then the tissues in the organism have to
3) Develop a brain ( a focal point for processing sense data)
4) Develop appendages to manipulate the environment
The organisms all the time have to
5) Survive
6) Allocate scarce energy resources to reproduction
7) Develop a fast enough metabolism to warrant more energy to the brain
8) Be in an environment that changes enough to push the organisms genetic line towards more processing of data

Of these, most of the time was actually spent achieving multi-cellularity. Once that happened, it was 'only' a half a billion years to intelligence.

Answer 2

Heh.. Shiara has a point. But as to your question, think about how evolution occurs, through tiny, sometimes almost imperceptible changes over long, long periods of time. You didn't just jump from single-celled protozoa to humans in one generation. And animals succeed quite well without thinking about philosophy and metaphysics, so for most species, a high degree of intelligence was less useful for survival and propagation of the species than other physical adaptations. We gradually developed higher brain functions because we're not exactly the strongest or hardiest of critters, so the ability to reason became an evolutionary advantage. And we had the capability to learn as much as we know now with the very first bona fide homo sapiens, but our actual level of knowledge was still pretty low -- it took time for our ancestors to learn survival lessons and pass them on to new generations, who built upon that knowledge with each passing generation, until we reach present day.

Answer 3

It did not,there were starships traveling to earth since the inception of earth as a habitable planet.The old science crew has made assumptions without looking at any evidence that is out there and contrary to their assumptions. Sure there were many sets of peoples that went off to themselves and did not attain any knowledge,simply because they did not try. The master geneticists that propagated all of the plant and animal species on this planet were quite capable,I am sure.There is alot of evidence of visitation and evidence of large scale machine mining long ago.I just chuckle when theory seems to become facts so conveniently.Any factoids I present as answers can be backed up with information to substantiate the facts.But ,alas much is hidden from others due to manipulation and ignorance.Seek,seek,seek,and you shall find as I have. Be a sleuth,not a sheep.

Answer 4

theyuks has it pretty well. but when you think about it.. once we were "in" and didnt have to think about how to survive every day, the advances came VERY quickly. think of just the past 50 years. stuff we have today, they couldnt even dream of back then.

Answer 5

long, doesn't seem very long to me

Answer 6

what makes you think it has?