[extropy-chat] thank evolution for the interstate highway system

[Dirk Bruere]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Lorrey" <mlorrey at yahoo.com>
To: "Dirk Bruere" <dirk at neopax.com>; "ExI chat list"
<extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 11:40 PM
Subject: Re: [extropy-chat] thank evolution for the interstate highway
system


>
> --- Dirk Bruere <dirk at neopax.com> wrote:
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Mike Lorrey" <mlorrey at yahoo.com>>
> > >
> > > As above, neanderthals were not of higher intelligence. The fact
> > that
> > > they are extinct demonstrates that they failed miserably at the
> > most
> > > important test of intelligence against a more intelligent
> > competitor
> > > for the same resources.
> >
> > ie outbreeding their competitor.
>
> No, there is no evidence of that. Neanderthals suffered from several
> disadvantages: their bones were much more dense, so they could not
> swim. Their arms did not allow as much dexterity as homo sap so they
> could not wield distance weapons like spears with any accuracy or force
> beyond ten meters or so, and so likely never evolved the mental ability
> to judge trajectories very well.

Yet it is quite conceivable that Homo Sapiens simply bred more quickly, esp
since they were smaller and presumably needed less food.
Only a 1% differential would have led to Neanderthals becoming extinct in a
very short timescale.
It may have nothing whatsoever to do with intelligence.

Dirk

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