“Many were increasingly of the opinion that they’d all made a big mistake coming down from the trees in the first place, and some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no-one should ever have left the oceans.” – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Evolution isn’t about improvement, it’s about adaptation; our proto-simian ancestors were no less “perfect” (and no more, if you insist) than we are. Life extends outwards, not upwards.
In the big picture, our human brains are no more remarkable then a giraffe’s neck.
“I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it’s a very poor scheme for survival.”
“Thinking doesn’t seem to help much. The human brain is too high-powered to have many practical applications in this particular universe.”
“Our brains are much too large. We are much too busy. Our brains have proved to be terribly destructive. Among other things, it is capable of creating the Third Reich of Germany, which in fact so demoralized the world that I don’t think we’ll ever recover.”
“So I raise this question […]: Can it be doubted that three-kilogram brains [are] nearly fatal defects in the evolution of the human race? A second query: What source [is there], save for our overelaborate nervous circuitry, for the evils we [are] seeing or hearing about simply everywhere? My answer: There [is] no other source. This [is] a very innocent planet, except for those great big brains. So it is our big brains that ruined an otherwise pleasant planet…Maybe we [aren’t] ready for free will!"
The dude from FL Premium Member over 1 year ago
I guess you’re not even happy with you
pschearer Premium Member over 1 year ago
Compare to yesterday’s “Andertoons”:
https://www.gocomics.com/andertoons/2023/06/28
ibFrank over 1 year ago
What do they call it when you stop evolving and start going into reverse?
test.pilot over 1 year ago
Congress
William Robbins Premium Member over 1 year ago
Between Crispr and Ai, we’re accelerating. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Ignatz Premium Member over 1 year ago
“Many were increasingly of the opinion that they’d all made a big mistake coming down from the trees in the first place, and some said that even the trees had been a bad move, and that no-one should ever have left the oceans.” – Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
fritzoid Premium Member over 1 year ago
Evolution isn’t about improvement, it’s about adaptation; our proto-simian ancestors were no less “perfect” (and no more, if you insist) than we are. Life extends outwards, not upwards.
In the big picture, our human brains are no more remarkable then a giraffe’s neck.
RobinHood over 1 year ago
“Humans are not proud of their ancestors, and rarely invite them round to dinner.”
Douglas
Bookworm over 1 year ago
Sheldon: . . . I will spend the rest of my life here in Texas trying to teach evolution to creationists.
Mrs. Cooper: You watch your mouth, Shelly. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion.
Sheldon: But evolution is not opinion, it’s a fact.
Sheldon’s mom: And that is your opinion.
(The Big Bang Theory: Season 3, Episode 1, “The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation” – First aired 09/21/2009.)
fritzoid Premium Member over 1 year ago
“I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it’s a very poor scheme for survival.”
“Thinking doesn’t seem to help much. The human brain is too high-powered to have many practical applications in this particular universe.”
“Our brains are much too large. We are much too busy. Our brains have proved to be terribly destructive. Among other things, it is capable of creating the Third Reich of Germany, which in fact so demoralized the world that I don’t think we’ll ever recover.”
“So I raise this question […]: Can it be doubted that three-kilogram brains [are] nearly fatal defects in the evolution of the human race? A second query: What source [is there], save for our overelaborate nervous circuitry, for the evils we [are] seeing or hearing about simply everywhere? My answer: There [is] no other source. This [is] a very innocent planet, except for those great big brains. So it is our big brains that ruined an otherwise pleasant planet…Maybe we [aren’t] ready for free will!"
(All Kurt Vonnegut)