Has evolution stopped? Why has no other species on the planet not developed intelligence similar to humans?

Question

Has the development of the human species somehow blocked other species from evolving along a similar evolutionary path?

Answer 1

There is no reason to believe that evolution has stopped.

There are animals with intelligence similar to humans. The key word here though is similar. Chimps, gorillas, other primates, elephants, whales, and perhaps dolphins are all incredibly intelligent animals.

Elephants, chimps, and gorillas especially have a sense of self awareness. They will wipe a smudge off their face if they see they have a smudged face in a mirror. This is significant because they realize the reflection in the mirror is themselves. Signs of culture and empathy have also been observed in many of these animals. Elephants and chimps will mourn their dead and elephants even seem to remember the place where family members have died.

Humans are most certainly smarter than chimps, however, here is the issue with comparing intelligence between species. Humans are specialized tool makers. We have the physical and mental ability to manipulate the world around us. We are also specialized verbal communicators.

Whales don't have hands or arms and have very little way to manipulate their environment, so there is no reason for them to be able to figure out how to make a spear. But whales are specialized long distance communicators and they do this very well. Whales can communicate by sound for thousands of miles. Certain whales will even arrange hunting teams that take cooperation on behalf of all the team members, each having a specific task.

So there are animals on Earth with levels of intelligence similar to humans. Many have well developed self awareness and some are most certainly more intelligent than humans in some areas. They are most intelligent at what they are best designed to do, so we can only really do side by side intelligence comparisons with other primates.

Answer 2

Like others have said we tend to think of ourselves as being at the 'summit' of evolution and all other species less developed than ourselves because we are looking at it from a human perspective.

An antelope would look at us and think us undeveloped and primitive because we can't run fast and could be easily eaten by lions! Similarly a swift would look with contempt on our underdeveloped flying skills.

So intelligence is just one way in which as species can evolve to survive best. So why did humans evolve intelligence and no other species? Well it could be that the odds of developing intelligence are pretty small, or that it is only an evolutionary advantage in a very rare set of circumstances. We just happened to be the lucky ones!

Answer 3

because evolution only occurrs as the environment changes and organisms need to adapt in order to survive. when an allele (form of a gene) arises this will either give the organism an advantage or disadvantage. if the allele is advantagous the organism is more likely to pass on the genes and that allele untill eventually enter the gene pool and become common among that speacies. if disadvantagous the organism will probably die young with out passing on its genes. we developed intelligence by mistake as is all evolution as it gave us an advantage within the environment. therefore an organism will only evolve if needs be. lions have claws, teeth and powerfull limbs. all they are programmed to do is sleep for about 23 hours a day and eat. what use will intelligence give them, this is why no other organism have developed such high levels of intelligence. in the future we could well have competition, i doubt it though as we will still be thousands of years ahead this evolutionary path.
this question has many answers and would eventually delve into ethology and cognitive psychology as intelligence depends on the size of the cerebrum (controls emotions, voluntary acts and personality), memory span of the organism and types of behaviour present within the species.

Answer 4

No, evolution has not stopped.

Don't confuse *intelligence* as the optimal "path" of evolution. That just happens to be our path.

In other words, even if humans were not here, there is no reason to believe that all, or even *any*, other animals would develop the same level of intelligence.

However, that said, the evidence is that Homo sapiens co-existed with Homo neanderthalensis (neanderthal) which was also extremely intelligent, and which went extinct as recently as only 24,000 years ago (!). It is possible that we (Homo sapiens) had a hand in the extinction of the last of the Neanderthals.

So it is possible that an intelligent species cannot tolerate a second intelligent species.

See my source below for information about the interraction between Neanderthals and the Cro-Magnons (who were Homo sapiens).

Answer 5

evolution is not goal directed. High intelligence is only useful if it increases survival. If you look around, barnacles survive just beautifully without much of a brain. So do bacteria, trees, nettles, thistles etc.
If we happen eventually to use our intelligence to kill all humans off one way or another, our brand of intelligence will have proven to be an evolutionary dead end.
Generally if an ecological niche is already occupied it will hinder a new species from moving in. A common example is Australia, as there were originally no mammals, marsupials radiated into many species occupying ecological niches which are on other continents filled by mammals.

Answer 6

I just read in this month's Discover magazine that chimpanzee intelligence does continue to increase. They already are closest to being as intelligent as humans.

But, I'm pretty sure if they start making war on humans to expand their territory, humans will, for now, win the war with having had so many years to develop advanced war equipment. Humans might even kill them all if they get too bellicose.

Answer 7

Evolution continues apace, which is why new treatments are required for virulent diseases as they adapt to the old treatments. It's also why crop yields are up in some areas without the aid of GM strains and why we're still observing changes in many mammals and reptiles.

Answer 8

You have to be careful about what your definition of intelligent. Is it intelligent for humans to be destroying their planet....I would say no. There are "intelligent" animals out there. Just watch a couple hours of the Discovery Channel and you will discover that for yourself. You also have to consider how slow the evolutionary process really is.

Answer 9

Evolution is a slow and gradual process and the chances are in this lifetime you will not see a great change in anything yet. But there is evidence that humans are evolving all the time, I mean we are getting taller and more obese.

Answer 10

Have humans develop wings? No, evolution hasn't stopped its just that things evolve to what they are to be and evertything isn't going to evolve with the same traits.