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There's a problem recognizing intelligent species for what they are even if we can meet them face to face. Dolphins, crows, octopus, orangutans, ... Since the

There's a problem recognizing intelligent species for what they are even if we can meet them face to face. Dolphins, crows, octopus, orangutans, ... Since they don't build civilization as we conceive it, asserting their intelligence is controversial.

0xbadcafebee 3y ago
One could also argue that a truly intelligent species would not build civilizations, as they tend to create more problems than they solve. The natural solution to natural problems is to evolve, and that works pretty dang well for pretty much all known life, other than our own.
- gabesullice 3y ago
  > they tend to create more problems than they solve. The natural solution to natural problems is to evolve Is dying of drought, while being survived by less thirsty mutants, really solving any problems? I guess there's some genetic lineage that keeps on replicating. Then we humans decide whether it's similar enough to keep labelling it the same "species". If so, maybe we declare that the species solved the problem of the drought. Meanwhile, I doubt there were any creatures happy to die of thirst for lack of an aqueduct. If we ignore that unfortunate reality and measure success by DNA replication, then civilization might still being doing alright. We've had a bit of a population explosion in the last few hundred years.
- YurgenJurgensen 3y ago
  "Whatever happens, we have got. The Maxim gun, and they have not." It turns out that having 'true intelligence' probably doesn't matter if the tribe from the next valley over has bronze weapons and armour and would quite like to steal your stuff and enslave your people.
- Scarblac 3y ago
  The natural solution to big changes is mostly to go extinct. Except sometimes a happy few that somehow manage to make it, and then their offspring is like them. Calling evolution a solution is mostly hindsight.
- leobg 3y ago
  Reminds me of a stand up comedian who said about AI: “People are afraid that AI will take their jobs. But if it’s really that intelligent, it’s gonna let _us_ do the work”.

0xbadcafebee 3y ago

One could also argue that a truly intelligent species would not build civilizations, as they tend to create more problems than they solve. The natural solution to natural problems is to evolve, and that works pretty dang well for pretty much all known life, other than our own.

gabesullice 3y ago
> they tend to create more problems than they solve. The natural solution to natural problems is to evolve Is dying of drought, while being survived by less thirsty mutants, really solving any problems? I guess there's some genetic lineage that keeps on replicating. Then we humans decide whether it's similar enough to keep labelling it the same "species". If so, maybe we declare that the species solved the problem of the drought. Meanwhile, I doubt there were any creatures happy to die of thirst for lack of an aqueduct. If we ignore that unfortunate reality and measure success by DNA replication, then civilization might still being doing alright. We've had a bit of a population explosion in the last few hundred years.
YurgenJurgensen 3y ago
"Whatever happens, we have got. The Maxim gun, and they have not." It turns out that having 'true intelligence' probably doesn't matter if the tribe from the next valley over has bronze weapons and armour and would quite like to steal your stuff and enslave your people.
Scarblac 3y ago
The natural solution to big changes is mostly to go extinct. Except sometimes a happy few that somehow manage to make it, and then their offspring is like them. Calling evolution a solution is mostly hindsight.
leobg 3y ago
Reminds me of a stand up comedian who said about AI: “People are afraid that AI will take their jobs. But if it’s really that intelligent, it’s gonna let _us_ do the work”.