In evolutionary terms could animals eventually evolve like humans?

Question

If humanity survived long enough into the future, could we witness the evolution of 'animals' to the point where they developed the kind of intelligence that would allow them to develop advanced technologies, think critically, trade goods and change their life circumstances the way we can?
And of course would we then have to negotiate a political solution with the animals that gives them their 'national' independence...or would we have to witness the oppression, exploitation and eventual liberation of the Impala from the lion, so to speak?

Answer 1

Since you put it that way, then yes we could. "Eventually" and "long enough into the future" combined is a long time indeed ;) But the fact that it is possible doesn't mean that it is likely. There are pros and cons at work here.

Not all species have the potential for human-like evolution. Only beneficial and neutral treads survive natural selection. Evolution doesn't "over-evolve" an ability, but reaches for a sufficient level of ability, a kind of "maximum gain by minimum cost". Thus a cow isn't very smart since its food is easy to find (it literally stands on it, and grass doesn't run away when a cow comes along). Somewhere really early on the cow's evolution it "chose" a certain strategy of defence against predators: living in herds, horns and running (don't be fooled: cows are fast!). These abilities are sufficient since cows haven't gone extinct - yet. It would be a huge evolutionary cost for cows to try to evolve differently. In fact it would be impossible without genetic engineering since cows don't have genes for it. That is the biggest setback of natural evolution: once a certain trait is eliminated from a species' gene-pool, that trait can never be gained back. It's gone for good. (Well, unless there is a mutation that brings that trait back. It is statistically possible, but almost totally improbable.) So a cow has chosen these four traits: grass, herds, horns and running, and it can only evolve through those traits. Thus to evolve intellectually a species must have chosen intellect as one of its survival strategies.

There are species that have done so. Every omnivore and carnivore must posses some level of intelligence, since their food is hard to find. Their food is likely to fight back so they must figure out the most beneficial way to capture or reach it. Wolves hunt in packs, since it is practically impossible to hunt down an elk alone. But as a pack the individual cost for hunting is lower and one elk provides enough food for a pack. Hunting in pack requires coordination of the movements of the members of the pack. This requires communication and some level of reasoning (go ahead and shoot me, but I know animals can figure things out). Communication and reasoning are acts of intelligence. Thus wolves posses intelligence and can evolve through it. Same goes with omnivores whose success lies in their ability to find new food sources. It is the intelligence that brings bears, seagulls, crows, foxes and such into our towns and backyards. They have learnt that food can easily be found there. (Yes, being lazy is a symptom of intelligence.)

Human-like evolution would require human-like traits. A large enough brain and an ability of complex vocal communication (being vocal frees our arms and gives long range communication) are the minimum requirement. Apes have that and guess what, chimps and orangutans use tools, they have cultural differences between populations, chimps IN WILD use symbolic language (this is a new discovery. I'm not surprised if you haven't heard about it). Orangutans have a complex society that adapts to the environment: they live in large close groups where food is abundant and in loose populations when food sources are widely scadered. Chimps trade things, and political power. So they do have the potential, but you really can't say that will happen. Only time will (would) tell.

What gives you the idea that "animal rights" analogical to human rights would be a politically hard decision to make? We have the beginning of that even now. You are not supposed to cause unnecessary pain to an animal, for example. These animal rights are almost synonymous to the rights and good treatment of human slaves and factory workers of the 18th and 19th century. They were considered unnecessary and plain stupid at first and look what happened. I admit, human rights are far from perfect, but nevertheless, you get my point.

Does impala need liberation from the lion? Would the intelligent impala need liberation from the intelligent lion? IMHO it is utterly arrogant to assume that an impala would perceive freedom the same way we western (in my case North European) humans do. To answer that we would first have to have the opinion of the impala and the lion. And I don't dare to claim the right to speak their mind for them. I can only call for animal rights in those cases where animals are oppressed by humans.

I think we should, at the political level, concentrate to human rights for the time being. And (not be?) human to animals.

Answer 2

Humanity is so pervasive across the world and our lives impact the environment so much that we would be lucky not to send said species into extinction.

One possible thing we could do is find a planet that could support life, and seed some life there. Then evolution would run its course there and eventually intelligent life might appear (there is of course no guarantee). But remember, this process takes millions upon millions of years, and humanity has only been writing for 6000 of it.

Answer 3

In evolutionary terms, that would be possible. Some animals are already doing 'artificial selection' (as opposed to natural), to become more intelligent and more social in ways that are relevant to humans (i.e., dogs).

However, since humans can exercise control over the evolution of species, they could also prevent any movement in that direction from happening. Again, like dogs, they could breed out any traits that might make the dogs more agressive or less obedient to people.

Answer 4

I don't think they would ever evolve that far. However, if you ever watch the Discovery channel you will see how many animals have already evolved over time to live in harmony with humans. I watched a show on wolves and coyotes, and they are getting smarter and more cunning all the time. We teach parrots to talk, but I think we're a long ways away from having them think of their own speech and have an intelligent conversation.

Answer 5

Have humans evolved????? From my perspective we have De-volved. We are fat, lazy, and use computers to do our thinking, hell most of the people I meet on a daily basis can't even make change without the help of an electronic cash register. ...... but to answer your question NO, animals might evolve through natural selection i.e. rabbits may become better rabbits..... lions may become better lions.... neon tetras may become better neon tetras..... (this is the method breeders use to better their livestock offspring) but frogs do not evolve into apes and apes do not evolve into humans. My ancestors were humans. Perhaps some peoples ancestors were apes or chimps though .. that would explain why they can't make change down at the fast food joint ....

Answer 6

I seriously doubt that "domesticated" animals....

No, let me answer this question a different way.

Do you really think that humanity would allow another species to compete with us over our limited resources? I personally doubt it. Animals are too much under our control, especially domesticated animals, to develop a "mind of their own", and even a large percentage of wild animals are within the periphery of our control, and are monitored in one fashion or another. I'm pretty sure that any developmental, or evolutionary changes would be noticed and quickly stamped out.

Answer 7

Evolution is a not a theory in crisis, it is terminally ill. It is kept alive by artificial life support, by individuals who refuse to look at the facts objectively. Sorry if I sound harsh, but the unwarranted display of creationism as a religion is ignoring the real issues, SCIENCE.

Answer 8

Read the book, "From Goo to You by way of the Zoo" by Harold Hill. In this book he scientifically proves that the THEORY of evolution will never get out of the THEORY stage..

Answer 9

No simply because they have no need to develop those traits.
Put another way, that environmental niche is already filled.
Evolution is not a linear progression from "lower form" to a "higher form" it fills niches, where can I make a living.

Answer 10

No - at the current rates of extinction, we will have killed off and eaten all the animals by then. Can you say Fried Dog.