# Thoughts on Extraterrestrial Life **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 28, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482 "2006-08-28T01:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482/61 "2006-09-02T00:05:16Z")
I haven’t read [Guns, Germs and Steel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_Germs_and_Steel) yet, but this might illuminate some of your thoughts on industrialisation and technology. Brain capacity does not necessarily lead to technology. Technology and culture though, increases brain capacity. So there are the steps from life to sentience to technology to increased intelligence to … uhdenno … networked intelligent cyborgs collonising the solar system. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482/62 "2006-09-02T04:23:29Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > I haven’t read [Guns, Germs and Steel](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_Germs_and_Steel) yet, but this might illuminate some of your thoughts on industrialisation and technology. Brain capacity does not necessarily lead to technology. Technology and culture though, increases brain capacity. > > So there are the steps from life to sentience to technology to increased intelligence to … uhdenno … networked intelligent cyborgs collonising the solar system. Are you saying that resistance is futile? I once heard a commercial that said “Each time you learn something new, you get another wrinkle in your brain.” I told **Mrs.Nic** that I knew a few people that must have brains that look like a cue ball. She did not appreciate having coffee coming out of her nose. As to the book, I have heard of that one as well and I’m adding it to my list for my next bookstore trip. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482/63 "2006-09-02T10:52:04Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > . Brain capacity does not necessarily lead to technology. Technology and culture though, increases brain capacity. > > . [LYSENKOISM?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism) On the SDMB?! :eek: :smack: No, dammit! Biology takes millions of years to make major changes. The idea that culture somehow alters our neurology is nonsense! ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482/64 "2006-09-02T13:50:05Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > [LYSENKOISM?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism) > > On the SDMB?! :eek: :smack: > > No, dammit! Biology takes millions of years to make major changes. The idea that culture somehow alters our neurology is nonsense! - “Brain capacity does not necessarily lead to technology.”\* - OK with this sentance? _“Technology and culture though, increases brain capacity.”_ - You are right, that’s wrong. Better to say “Language increases brain capacity” - Not in a lamarkian sense but through co-evolution (through natural selection) of memes and genes. Memes change the environment through which genes are selected. Better brains, which are able to better utilise language and symbols to communicate survival skills, tool making, aquiring food, socialisation, … to better spread memes. So language was a natural selection pressure for smarter brains with the positive side effect being technology and culture. Is that better? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482/65 "2006-09-02T20:59:56Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > - > > “Brain capacity does not necessarily lead to technology.”\* - OK with this sentance? > > _“Technology and culture though, increases brain capacity.”_ - You are right, that’s wrong. Better to say “Language increases brain capacity” - Not in a lamarkian sense but through co-evolution (through natural selection) of memes and genes. Memes change the environment through which genes are selected. Better brains, which are able to better utilise language and symbols to communicate survival skills, tool making, aquiring food, socialisation, … to better spread memes. So language was a natural selection pressure for smarter brains with the positive side effect being technology and culture. > > Is that better? Yes, much. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-on-extraterrestrial-life/370482.md?page=3)