Do you think humans would exist today if we hadn't developed the power of thought?

Question

I mean, to be honest we are quite weak compared to many animals that exist today. I'm not even talking about the dinosaurs. we have very little natural defence, as we only have our limbs to kick and punch

Answer 1

I'm glad you're not even talking about the Dinosaurs. First, you're right, they aren't around today. Second, they were never around at the same time early hominids were evolving into our current species.

Putting aside my snide remarks however, you're comment on weakness is exaggerated. Those arms and legs that you describe as only good for "kicking and punching" are adapted to much more. We have the ability to use our arms and legs (albeit usually in conjunction with our developed minds) to manipulate our environment in ways no other animals can.

On the issue of defense also I would point out an observation that Cliff Jolly made my department at a meeting once. He was observing Baboons in the wild when a juvenile Chimpanzee came and stole some food. In his mind the larger adult Baboon would easily take back its meal. He was in for a sup rise, and a revelation, when he watched the Baboon charge the chimp only to be punched squarely in the snout. After a couple more of these charge/punch interactions the Baboon lost interest and left. The limb agility that humans have is not a minor issue, nor is the ability to kick and punch, even in the wild.

Answer 2

If we take the literal translation of the word Humans into Homo Sapiens Sapiens (which is the only non-extinct subspecies) then by definition we would not be Human without thought, as thought is part of the definition of the species.

Homo Sapiens Idaltu (the other known subspecies of Homo Sapiens) is extinct, so having the power of thought is not the only thing keeping us in existance (but it sure helps).

As far Humans being the only Animals with the ability of cognitive thought, that is currently hotly debated. But given my small sample of visits to the zoo and looking into the eyes of a great ape or two, I am pretty sure they are not just waiting for stimulus.

Answer 3

since most humans don't think (before they act) what an odd question to ask. even more odd is that you expect an intelligent answer! humans would've evolved into what humans are today with or without the concept of thought. what? you really believe that only humans 'think'? how very goth in thinking. now, about our natural defenses? actually we have many. skin color changes depending on sun exposure; eye color protects our corneas & the extra fold around the upper lids protects against glare. our 5 senses are rather acute unless you are over the age of 70. even then, lots of people have sharper senses than realized but we also have speech & the ability to communicate our defenses, needs, alerts, etc. failure to use them doesn't qualify for not having them. you are right, though. we are the odd ones out on this planet. we don't fit. makes you wonder if we were indeed a biological , monumental mistake or not of this world. hum!

Answer 4

I think your question is misplaced. I mean, it's like asking if the dinosaurs would be alive if they were not extinct almost 65 million years ago. Our development as a species is directly connected to our ability to think. We barely know how we got to be here in the first place (meaning that the evolution of humans has a lot of gaps scientists are still not able to fill). What you ask is, essentially, the complete evolutionary path of a hypothetical species. It's true that we rely heavily on technology for our survival, but can anyone think of the struggle for survival of a species of 'humans' unable to use higher thought processes as we do? The best answer for you is (as in physics and mathematics): the question is misplaced!

Answer 5

Humans aren't all that weak.We're one of the larger mammals, and while our bodies lack the raw power of, say, an elephant, we tend to be able to handle ourselves. Consider the evidence the bipedalism and the general human form seems to have appeared before brain size began to increase in hominids. Our bodies aren't built for speed and power, necessarily, but they are built efficiently. As bipeds, we have rather efficient locomotion. Humans can literally run all day if they get used to doing it. Quadrupeds have more difficulty doing that. Humans also are organized into social groups, which aids in resource gathering and defense, and it's something that plenty of less intelligent species do.

I can't say whether or not we'd be around as a species, but I wouldn't be so bleak about it.

Answer 6

I think we would have evolved in other areas, other than the brain. We probably would have survived, but we would look alot different, since the characteristics of our bodies and our strength would have had to be differently developed to make up for the lack of decision making and problem solving we would have not had. The only difference between humans and other animals is the size of our frontal lobe. So since ours is larger, and we have the ability to make decisions, we have figured out that it is not necessary to have much natural defense physically.We have the ability to imagine and dream and be creative, so we have developed ways to survive around that and to make life easier. If our frontal lobes had not developed this way, we would most likely be exactly like the other animals out there, surviving off of mostly instinct, and where our only purpose in life was to eat, breed, and protect ourselves for the survival of our species. Your body evolves to what it is deeming as necessary for survival. Since we have much more evolved brains, the rest of us has not evolved as far as survival is concerned. It makes you wander, if we were to evolve to the point where we found that none of these physical needs were necessary any longer, such as food, water, sex, etc., and we figured out how to completely just rely on the mind for survival, would our physical bodies even exist anymore? Would we be just energy? Weird thought.

Answer 7

Our power of thought saved us. You are right. We are weak physically.

Just think about it. All the way back to early men. They developed stone tools, weapons, etc to protect themselves because they knew that their own 2 hands would not do the job against animals such as the saber toothed tiger.

And today, what are the things that protect us? All a result of greater technology...guns, satellites, alarm systems--all man made inventions. We would be NO where without our brain power.

Answer 8

We would not be able to even kick or punch if we did not have the power of thought actually. Thank goodness our maker developed this thing we call the brain and how sad it is that we also abuse it.

Answer 9

we are pretty weak, but its been proven that the human brain is the only tissue in the world to actually know that it exists, and so is capable of higher thoughts like 'is killing this animal for my food really necessary?'
this also means that we can use tools, not just our hands, which is how we came to be one of the most prolific species on the planet. if we just used our hands for hunting we'd still be like animals, and would probably be extinct due to predation from thigns like sabretoothed cows, which would never have become domesticated if we hadn't wanted them too.

Answer 10

Well some of us did, and yes it was a case of, learning to work things out, hide from beasties, pick berries, light fires etc., Developing the FRIGHT or FLIGHT instincts etc.,

However, what about, you know the ones that drag thier knuckles along the floor, that make racists comments and as sad & vulgarly stupid questions on Q& A....... well where did they come from???

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