Which early man had the most intelligence?

Question

The man who wondered if there is something more out there, and searched for that proof.

or

The early man who didn't think that there was anything more out there.

Gary,
Imaginary causes leads to quests for real cures. Hence the medicine woman/man. Even though they used prayer and chants to cure an imaginary illness or an illness that they thought was caused by bad omens, they also incorporated herbs and potions. Ask a pagan if I am wrong?

So even though scientist have advanced us now. It was the spiritual people who were the first explorers and scientist.

Gary,
Has not and has never? Uh, what of scientist who are now finding out that some of those cures do have some medicinal benefits. Sure many can be refuted, but some cannot be.

Answer 1

That distinction does not exist, and never has. The human brain is hard-wired to define and understand patterns in its world. Nothing scares humans more than uncertainty and they cannot function if everything seems randomly variable. So important is the need for understanding that in the absence of scientific knowledge the mind creates imaginary causes and mystical forces to explain the unknown.

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edit –

Although there is legitimate merit in studying the pharmacological benefits of native plants and it goes without question that by trial and error primitive and later human groups correctly identified the medicinal connection between some plants and illnesses, you assessment is inaccurate because it is based on false assumptions that lead to improper conclusions.

Spiritual/folk-based medical research does not (and has never) led to real cures with anywhere near the success rate of science-based medical research. In the last 100 years alone, the life expectancy of Americans has increased from less than 50 years to more than 75 years; and that is a direct result of modern medical science.

Here is an example of how human perception can lead to incorrect conclusions about the effectiveness of a healthcare system. The people who live at high elevations in the Peruvian Andes recognize (define) a certain illness as one specific disease. In our system, we would see a number of conditions ranging all the way from the common cold to extreme amoebic dysentery.

Let’s start with 100 hypothetical cases of the illness in which those afflicted seek some “professional” help.

Their first trip is to the local Curandero (medicine man).

Now, the fact is that most illnesses are not fatal and most of us recover from minor ailments even without doing anything – and that is the case here. 80% of these patients are going to recover anyway, but that still gives the Curandero an 80% success rate in curing this particular illness.

The remaining 20 people who are still suffering next go to a pharmacist (who can dispense prescription drugs without a Doctor’s referral).

Let’s say that after seeing the pharmacist, 10 more people have recovered (for whatever reason). This still gives the pharmacist a 50% successful cure-rate – far below that of the curandero, but not bad.

The final 10 cases (by now even more ill and weaker than when they first went to the curandero) finally decide to try the nearest available doctor trained in modern medicine.

By this time, we are down to the 10 who were most seriously ill to begin with or who have been so weakened by the illness that they already are near death. Maybe the western-trained physician can only save one or two of these. What the people see is that 80-90% of his patients die (which only reinforces their reluctance to go to him in the future). They do not see that there really were many different illnesses at work and that the three health providers (curandero, pharmacist, and doctor) were dealing with three very different classes of patient and had very different medical crises to deal with.

And, the same goes on in our society today with all the mystical, mumbo-jumbo, fad cure-all modern-day patent medicines that are advertised and promoted by con artists and self-proclaimed healers.

Answer 2

My answer is...

The man who wondered if there was something more out there and searched for proof of it is more intelligent than the one who didn't think there was anything more out there..

He was more intelligent because he had imagination. He could conceive of an entity he couldn't understand.

Imagination also advances science. If you cannot imagine something that doesn't already exist, how can your world or your intellect grow?

Whether the man mentioned above was wise to keep searching is another question. There must be balance in all things.

Answer 3

Cro-Magnon, they have some early cave paintings which show a relation to the world and early use of flints as tools. Approx 40,000BC. You can go back as far as 5 million years BC http://www.chinavoc.com/history/earlyman.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1999/04/02/nape02.html

Answer 4

The man who wondered because that is the man that possibly found. Seek and you will find.

Answer 5

your question is open, without enough to go on

both could be quite bright and intelligent, it is just the point of view each had

do not judge intelligence by ones ability to see, or you may miss both the wit and charm of the human race for doing the amazing

Answer 6

The one who spread the Words!

Answer 7

Adam and Eve who knew there was something out there and actually talked to Him.

Answer 8

the one who questions

Answer 9

Why don't you go back in time and see . . . . .

Answer 10

The one who put his faith and trust in God.