[extropy-chat] The evolution of intelligence

[David Lubkin]

I'm trying to understand what the evolution of intelligence might 
have been, and am in search of pointers to background sources. This 
seemed like a logical place to ask, given our shared interests.

In some cognitive models, there's the idea of distinct capabilities, 
each having a biological basis. Each of which presumably conferred a 
reproductive advantage, in its first through its final forms, 
although it may not be clear that that advantage is wholly 
independent of the pre-existence of another of the capabilities.

What is the set of cognitive subsystems known to exist in some 
species? Which species have which subsystems? Why do they have those 
and why not the others? What does this look like in a taxonomic or 
timeline tree?

I've dusted off my sf writer hat lately so I'm mostly looking for a 
plausible framework to draw on in creating lifeforms for stories I'm 
working on. It would also be nice to find folks in the pertinent 
fields who wouldn't mind if I asked stupid questions or ran ideas by.


-- David.