Many people’s argument for humans being the most intelligent of all species is that we are the “dominant” creatures on this earth. However, I don’t think that this has much to do with actual intelligence. It’s just that humans have a superiority complex.
So, what species is the most intelligent? English speakers invented the word “intelligence” to define the things that we are good at such as tool-making, speach, and adaptibilty to different environments. By definition then, humans are the most intelligent species. Cockroaches on the other hand, have had to change very little in millions of years because they are extremely well adapted to their niches. They are not intelligent by definition however.
This answers the OP’s question also. We are an intelligent species because we have defined what intelligence is. Other arguments for human intelligence may involve the development of consciousness. Some apes may have a rudimentary consciousness but they are competing for the intelligence title using the same strategies that we do. Therefore, we are more “intelligent” than they are also. In summary, we are indeed the most intelligent species according to our definition.
Shagnasty brought up a really good point, and I hadn’t thought of it like that before.
yourdictionary.com gave this definition of intelligence:
the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : REASON; also : the skilled use of reason (2) : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one’s environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria; mental acuteness.
Therefore, I don’t think that it is thoroughly possible to gauge the intelligence of all creatures. If they don’t experience new or trying situations, and have no need to manipulate their environment, then how can we gauge their ability?
Negatuing the existential value of a memory is not intelligent nor can in be charachterized as a choice or a goal. Whether or not the memory itself has positive or negative value in conjunction with other truths revolving around the necessities requires for intelligence, is another topic. There is however, no make believe system of deeper intelligence lying behind the negation of a memory value; the contradiction negates the persons logical framework to such a degree as proving that any percieved superior reason to make such a statement; cannot actually exist, and must be necessity be delusional or simulated.
-Justhink
I think roaches are the primary species on this planet. they are more suseptable to a nuclear attack, 1 in 6 will survive, they come from nowhere and then take over the place. Even the biggest bulkiest men hate coming across them. They are the most intelligent species on this planet. They are just waiting for us to kill ourselves off so they can have the entire planet to themselves. Patience is indeed a virtue.
Justthink:
I’m going to give you a little hint:
You don’t need to use all those ten-dollar words (hell, do you actually know what they mean?).
They add nothing to you argument, and are obviously a pathetic attempt to make youself sound important and smart. They are, however, a pointless “sound and fury, signifying nothing”
IN any event, your last little post manages, in about 100 words, to assert something without giving any reasons. However, I did not give any either (thought it took me merely 10 words). So here it is:
Now morals add a whole 'nother can 'o worms.