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Dolphins are clearly intelligent, but not smart enough to organize a colony of many thousands of permanent shelters, and share community surplus that advances a
by probablah 10y ago
Dolphins are clearly intelligent, but not smart enough to organize a colony of many thousands of permanent shelters, and share community surplus that advances a dolphin civilization that benefits those who participate.
So, probably as intelligent as nomadic pre-historic humans. I wouldn't rate that as "highly" intelligent. Just somewhat intelligent.
These are still pre-historic dolphins, since they don't seem to record history for themselves yet. If they carry oral traditions, they seem to be limited to hunting techniques, and not specific events and personalities measured across time. There is no evidence of symbolism invented by dolphins.
- krzat 10y agoMaybe the only reason for dolphins not having civilisation is lack of hands.
- probablah 10y agoSo what? They're under water. If anything that makes it easier to alter their environment with lasting effects. In calm waters, it would be trivial to dig trenches and stack rocks, to create structures, as hunting traps or dens. Either way, the octopus is similarly prehistoric, despite readily prehensile appendages. Nor does a lack of hands readily explain the level of elephant intelligence, given a prehensile trunk.
- psyc 10y agoThere are plenty of people who question whether agrarian civilization was a smart move.
- probablah 10y agoAnd there are also plenty of animals that question whether their own role in human agrarian society is a smart move. Hint: the animals are less intelligent for doing so.
- leephillips 10y agoDouglas Adams has done some interesting research along these lines.