That’s what I’m saying to. My use of the word “fortuitous” was a poor choice. And I don’t eat octopus anymore.
to=too
I skimmed, but I didn’t see any responses to blowero’s point. Anyone care to comment? I think it’s very likely that it will turn out that we “offed” competing species that possesed capabilities close to ours. After all, look at what we do within our species–we’re violent, aggressive, and easily threatened.
I skimmed, but I didn’t see any responses to blowero’s point. **
My understanding of the topic comes from reading popular nonfiction works on evolutionary theory. The murderous ape theory got its biggest boost from a South African paleontologist who found a lot of hominid skulls with holes in them, which he theorized might be the product of warfare with other species. There’s definite proof of warfare and I believe some cannabilism among hominids, but I don’t think it’s been demonstrated conclusively that there’s been organized warfare between species. Or demonstrated at all, really. Most paleontologists and evolutionary biologists tend to think that where conflict existed, it was a matter of competition for resources.
Then again, there’s no proof that we didn’t off a few competing species of hominid. As you note, we’re certainly violent and aggressive enough to have done it.
Sorry, I wish I could remember where I read the article. I remember reading about the theory that we “killed off the competition”, but I have no idea how accepted the theory is.
Well, since the emergence of Homo sapiens sapiens, species have become extinct in their millions.
The generalised adaptive strategy of our species has made us the most efficient carnivore, as well as altering practically every biome beyond recognition.
No doubt the less adapted hominids fell prey to this carnage as well, although it would be a mistake to interpret it as inter-species warfare.
As an optimist, I imagine that these lost species will be more than made up for by the new, neogenic species that will be created in their millions by genetic engineering, as humanity spreads out into the galaxy, but this possibility is just one of many…
it is for instance difficult even to reproduce mammoths from frozen DNA, as only 1x10^-6 part of the genome seems to be available…