Robin Hanson asks,
> Human IQ has been increasing. I doubt this is because of what chimps are
> doing here on Earth. If it is because of what humans are doing, then it
> must be due to an "autocatalytic positive feedback loop" among humans.
> What else could it possibly be?
Human IQ has increased (on average... don't forget this means on average) due to
better nutrition, a certain amount of natural selection, medical cures for brain
disease, and the educational system teaching the test.
Autocatalytic positive feedback loops don't apply to humans (that would involve
Lamarckian evolution in a single individual -- ludicrous) because humans are
programmed by evolution for survival and reproduction, not for increased
intelligence -- which would require heads even more out of proportion than we
already have.
--J. R.
"It begins with a prince kissing and angel. It ends with a bald-headed man
looking across the table at a fat woman."
--anonymous
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:50:15 MDT