how can we be sure we are more intelligent than other animals?!?

Question

when we dont even know what they think of and what things they know and how is it to be another animal?!

Answer 1

I often wonder that myself. Animals kill each other, but only for a reason. That, in itself, tells me they are smarter than some humans.

Answer 2

As a whole we are more intellectual than any other animal because we have a dexterity both mental and physical that allows us to adapt the environment to our needs .

Other animals adapt to the environment when they can or die when they cannot .

The species of greater intelligence will out live the species of lesser intelligence .

Non are in any doubt that the human domination of the planet will eventually cause an end to the human race .

So i say in the short term we are by far and away the most intelligent species on the planet ,

But in the long term other species quite definitely have the advantage .

Answer 3

As a neuroscientist, I can tell you with some certainty that humans are, by neurological standards, the most intelligent species on earth.

We are the only animals to have a developed neocortex specialized for different functions; we are the only animals who have language, our brain mass-body mass ratio is the greatest (brain mass is a good indicator of intelligence, although there are exceptions ), we are the only animals who (at least apparently, with data and electrophysical studies of the frontal lobe) use conscious cognition and reason (mostly) as a judge for our actions instead of instinct, and we are the only animals who use technology to direct evolution.

Of course, intelligence does not always translate into common sense.

Answer 4

Don't be afraid to say that humans are the most intelligent animals because it is true. Without even going to neurological differences and comparative biology you can just look around and see creations by human beings.
I am tired of hearing how dolphins are the most intelligent animals. I believe that dolphins are very intelligent but not anywhere close to man of course. Just because we don't hear what they "say" doesn't mean we are foolish. The fact that we are even tryying to study how other animals communicate is telling because I am yet to see a single dolphin doing human research.
Intelligence is highly related to survival. It is only man who has conqured all environments thats why were are testing space. We have visited dolphin world underwater with swimming, diving gear, ships and submarines; we have visited bird world with our planes we can live on deserts ;we are the only animals that have the luxury of researching on other organism and not fighting to survive.
The argument that doplhins are most intelligent because they take of their environment is rudiculous. I wish we graded human intelligence on "greeness" because I would be one of the most intelligent humans ever to walk the face of the earth!

Answer 5

because science is inductive and there has been no concrete proof that animals are more or as intelligent as we are.

i think it's incredibly arrogant, though. i don't think we have a right to declare we are smarter than anything else because, as you said, we have never known the inner workings of the minds of animals.

**after reading the douglas adams comment:
right on! that's exactly what i'm saying. we base intelligence on our own values and ideals, but in the end maybe it will prove to be wiser to just "muck around in the ocean". maybe they have reasoning behind their mucking around, or maybe they don't. maybe they don't need reason. maybe they use something OTHER than reason or instinct that we can't even understand. i don't know how we'd ever know if that were true, so why declare it one way or the other?

Answer 6

I've not met a species other than Homo Sapiens that can beat me at Chess, Scrabble or Ludo (had a few close calls with Canines and Backgammon though for some strange reason). This leads me to believe we are more intelligent.

I must qualify this statement however by saying I haven't played with every single species of animal yet - but I am working on it and will keep you posted.

Answer 7

Douglas Adams had it right.

"Humans had always believed they were more intelligent than dolphins, because they had achieved so much - the wheel, New York, wars and so on - while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. Conversely, dolphins had always believed they were more intelligent than humans for exactly the same reasons."

Answer 8

Humans assume they are more intelligent because they have the ability to form complex translateable languages. Humans have writings, mathematics and technologies, whereas animals cannot speak or write and have no technology other than rudimentary tools.

It has to be said though, that many animals are so intelligent (dolphins for example) that we cannot undertand how they communicate - so maybe we are way behind them.

Answer 9

all animals do what comes naturally to them, we as humans do what is natural but generally use conversation or other communication methods to get things done,we are inventive and resourcful,but other species exhibit amazing abilities, Termites can build the most amzing structures without a written plan or verbal communication.But in general I think that the human being is the top thinker

Answer 10

mazes and other games
language aquistion

the way scientists test intelligence is by doing a series of tests and timing the response of the test candidate

if the animal uses gadgets to help get food its seen to be using a tool which is a sign of intelligence
and how they live together in complex societies is again seen as sign of intelligence

how long the chidhood lasts as compared with man is seen as a sign of intelligence

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