So how come people evolved so high and apes didn't?

Just to make it clear this is in no way a "God Vs Evolution" thread...

Just wondering why our closest cousins are so far behind us in the evolutionary line?

Just to make it clear this is in no way a "God Vs Evolution" thread...

Just wondering why our closest cousins are so far behind us in the evolutionary line?

killtactics

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

Maybe they are smarter. Maybe we are currently too stupid to understand their ways and that they are more evolved than we are. Maybe they have special features and such that make higher up on the evolutionary line and we just haven't discovered them yet.ligerz76

Because they're dirty, stinkin' apes.

:D

Speech would be the reason I would say, while most communication is non-verbal many specific ideas and collaborations can only be effectively done through talking.

The issue isn't that other great apes aren't intelligent, our intelligences are not that drastically different, the issue is we have both the ideas and the means to achieve them while other great apes don't have those means.

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

iwokojance

Just to make it clear this is in no way a "God Vs Evolution" thread...

Just wondering why our closest cousins are so far behind us in the evolutionary line?

killtactics

Why do you say that they are far behind us along the evolutionary line?

Chimps have recently been shown to have better photographic memories than humans, they have the ability to learn quite well, and both chimps and gorillas have been able to learn sign language to some degree that implies a certain degree of symbol association. All of these are human traits that are rare if not absent in all species besides advanced primates,namely the great apes and humans.

cause The Theory of Evolution is a bunch of bull****.

But if you believe this crap, here it goes:

We didnt evolve from apes. We evolved from what apes were before they were apes.

were just a part of the certin family.

BUT THAT IS IF YOU ACCTUALLY BELIEVE THIS NONSENSE.

cause The Theory of Evolution is a bunch of bull****.

But if you believe this crap, here it goes:

We didnt evolve from apes. We evolved from what apes were before they were apes.

were just a part of the certin family.

BUT THAT IS IF YOU ACCTUALLY BELIEVE THIS NONSENSE.

elite_destroyer

MWA MWA MWWWWAAAAAAAA

Speech would be the reason I would say, while most communication is non-verbal many specific ideas and collaborations can only be effectively done through talking.

The issue isn't that other great apes aren't intelligent, our intelligences are not that drastically different, the issue is we have both the ideas and the means to achieve them while other great apes don't have those means.

[QUOTE="iwokojance"]

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

Aidenfury19

Speech would be the reason I would say, while most communication is non-verbal many specific ideas and collaborations can only be effectively done through talking.

The issue isn't that other great apes aren't intelligent, our intelligences are not that drastically different, the issue is we have both the ideas and the means to achieve them while other great apes don't have those means.

[QUOTE="iwokojance"]

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

Aidenfury19

Not true. Other primates exhibit the same tendencies towards violence that we do and that includes warfare.

Yes, speech is the defining feature that has allowed us to advance beyond the great apes, however, I would say that one must ask if the great apes lack the ability to use language, or simply never developed past the physical barriers of language, namely the evolution of the larynx or wind pipe.

And very good point about violent tendencies. In fact anyone that has watched Planet Earth has seen an example of Chimps fighting over territory much like how humans do in order to secure resources for their family/group.

Some people have not evolved "so high" but anyways... Back to the point, when humans started using objects with their hands (before the apes), that developped another way to think about the world, humans decided to adapt the world around him-self instead of adapting to the world as a survival strategy. That's the difference that happened between us and the apes.

[QUOTE="killtactics"]

Just to make it clear this is in no way a "God Vs Evolution" thread...

Just wondering why our closest cousins are so far behind us in the evolutionary line?

Insane00

Why do you say that they are far behind us along the evolutionary line?

Chimps have recently been shown to have better photographic memories than humans, they have the ability to learn quite well, and both chimps and gorillas have been able to learn sign language to some degree that implies a certain degree of symbol association. All of these are human traits that are rare if not absent in all species besides advanced primates,namely the great apes and humans.

They didn't need to get smarter in order to survive. While we on the other hand did, in order to survive harsher climates and stuff.Grasshopper_12

Some people have not evolved "so high" but anyways... Back to the point, when humans started using objects with their hands (before the apes), that developped another way to think about the world, humans decided to adapt the world around him-self instead of adapting to the world as a survival strategy. That's the difference that happened between us and the apes.

Etherninty

[QUOTE="Aidenfury19"]

Speech would be the reason I would say, while most communication is non-verbal many specific ideas and collaborations can only be effectively done through talking.

The issue isn't that other great apes aren't intelligent, our intelligences are not that drastically different, the issue is we have both the ideas and the means to achieve them while other great apes don't have those means.

[QUOTE="iwokojance"]

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

killtactics

Not true. Other primates exhibit the same tendencies towards violence that we do and that includes warfare.

First off, there is a difference between monkeys and apes. Humans are apes, or at least evolved from them. Apes include Chimps, Bonobos (a type of chimp), Gorillas, and Orangatangues. Apes evoloved from Monkeys which are in general much less intelligent than apes.

And as far as why did apes not evolve continually as humans did, a simple study of evolution and how it works would answer your question. You see, evolution, that is adapation, only occurs when the environment a species lives in puts pressure on said species to have to change in order to optimize survival. Chimps, Gorillas, and orangetangues have been living in what is essentially the exact same environment and occupied the exact same ecological niche for millions of years, the same niche that they occupy now. That is a tropical, large mammal niche in which they have already optimized the adaptations to best survive where they live. There is no point in changing for changes sake when your species is already performing at its optimum rate.

Humans, on the other hand, had to adapt. You see as environment changed, the apes that lived on the edge of tropical enviroments were forced to begin to live near and on grassland environments with fewer trees. This required these apes to have to come out of the trees and venture out on the grasslands full of predators such as lions, leapords, hayeenas, and the like. So, in tall grasses it was better for these apes to be able to walk bipedally to look for predators and run faster. Similarly one can see that the ability to communicate conditions on and around the ground to your buddies would give a reason for speech and communication abilities to advance.

There's a lot more to it than this, but this is the rough version.

[QUOTE="Insane00"][QUOTE="killtactics"]

Just to make it clear this is in no way a "God Vs Evolution" thread...

Just wondering why our closest cousins are so far behind us in the evolutionary line?

killtactics

Why do you say that they are far behind us along the evolutionary line?

Chimps have recently been shown to have better photographic memories than humans, they have the ability to learn quite well, and both chimps and gorillas have been able to learn sign language to some degree that implies a certain degree of symbol association. All of these are human traits that are rare if not absent in all species besides advanced primates,namely the great apes and humans.

I know some kids that like to do that. Does that mean they aren't as fully evolved.

Oh, and Bonobos are known to engage in homosexual activities, something that is contradictory to survival but represents an advanced degree of social interaction. So this is an example of how apes share similarities to us.

Are apes still afraid of fire? That might be part of the reason. I remember watching a National Geographic Documentary about how fire helped the evolution of man, since it made meat easier to eat, and so the jaw muscles didn't need to be as strong/big as they were, leaving more room in the head forthe brain to develop. Not to mention the fact that cooked meat stays edible for longer periods of time.Zagrius

And on this note, early human ancestors such as homo erectus, homo habilus, homo afarensus, and even lucy had very large jaw bone and muscles as well as teeth designed for seed cracking and grinding. They all represented evolutionary stages beyond that of modern apes, and yet had no use or knowledge of fire, thus indicating that fire was something that came about after humans were human, and thus that fire was not the cause of our evolution.

they aren't. there is no such thing as liner evolution. it is just adapting to one's environment. notconspiracy

[QUOTE="Etherninty"]

Some people have not evolved "so high" but anyways... Back to the point, when humans started using objects with their hands (before the apes), that developped another way to think about the world, humans decided to adapt the world around him-self instead of adapting to the world as a survival strategy. That's the difference that happened between us and the apes.

killtactics

Humans started using objects way before the apes.

[QUOTE="notconspiracy"]they aren't. there is no such thing as liner evolution. it is just adapting to one's environment. cowboymonkey21

[QUOTE="killtactics"][QUOTE="Aidenfury19"]

Speech would be the reason I would say, while most communication is non-verbal many specific ideas and collaborations can only be effectively done through talking.

The issue isn't that other great apes aren't intelligent, our intelligences are not that drastically different, the issue is we have both the ideas and the means to achieve them while other great apes don't have those means.

[QUOTE="iwokojance"]

I cannot answer your question, but I find this ironic: We are so far advanced as a species where technology, philosophy, et cetera are concerned, yet we continue to act worse toward each other than any other creature on this earth.

Insane00

Not true. Other primates exhibit the same tendencies towards violence that we do and that includes warfare.

First off, there is a difference between monkeys and apes. Humans are apes, or at least evolved from them. Apes include Chimps, Bonobos (a type of chimp), Gorillas, and Orangatangues. Apes evoloved from Monkeys which are in general much less intelligent than apes.

And as far as why did apes not evolve continually as humans did, a simple study of evolution and how it works would answer your question. You see, evolution, that is adapation, only occurs when the environment a species lives in puts pressure on said species to have to change in order to optimize survival. Chimps, Gorillas, and orangetangues have been living in what is essentially the exact same environment and occupied the exact same ecological niche for millions of years, the same niche that they occupy now. That is a tropical, large mammal niche in which they have already optimized the adaptations to best survive where they live. There is no point in changing for changes sake when your species is already performing at its optimum rate.

Humans, on the other hand, had to adapt. You see as environment changed, the apes that lived on the edge of tropical enviroments were forced to begin to live near and on grassland environments with fewer trees. This required these apes to have to come out of the trees and venture out on the grasslands full of predators such as lions, leapords, hayeenas, and the like. So, in tall grasses it was better for these apes to be able to walk bipedally to look for predators and run faster. Similarly one can see that the ability to communicate conditions on and around the ground to your buddies would give a reason for speech and communication abilities to advance.

There's a lot more to it than this, but this is the rough version.

You say "conditions on and around ect ect" but can't we apply this logic to tons of other animals? You know who would get a kick out of communication? lions, tigers, cheetahs, ect ect

[QUOTE="killtactics"][QUOTE="Etherninty"]

Some people have not evolved "so high" but anyways... Back to the point, when humans started using objects with their hands (before the apes), that developped another way to think about the world, humans decided to adapt the world around him-self instead of adapting to the world as a survival strategy. That's the difference that happened between us and the apes.

Etherninty

Humans started using objects way before the apes.

Not true, apes have always used tools such as rocks and sticks in order to acquire food. For instance the use rocks to break bone to get out the marrow, and they use sticks in order to get termites out of their nests in order to eat them. We know that they do this in the wild without any human intervention, thus it stands the reason that apes have been using these techniques for as long as they have been around.

[QUOTE="cowboymonkey21"][QUOTE="notconspiracy"]they aren't. there is no such thing as liner evolution. it is just adapting to one's environment. notconspiracy

[QUOTE="notconspiracy"][QUOTE="cowboymonkey21"][QUOTE="notconspiracy"]they aren't. there is no such thing as liner evolution. it is just adapting to one's environment. killtactics

They didn't live in areas where there was rock that could be broken and used by their hands.quiglythegreat

Your saying that in all of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Asian islands there are no naturally occuring hand sized rocks that could be used to bash open nuts or bones? Sorry if I don't buy that.

it all started with bipedalism, which freed up the arms in order to carry things and use tools. Being capable to use these tools changed the diet to include more meats, which made the brains grow to a very large size because of the protein. This made early humans smarter than the average animal but the moment that drastically changed all of this was around 70000 years ago when a super-volcano in Indonesia erupted and killed everyone except approximately 2000 of the smartest, strongest, and probably luckiest humans. The aftermath of the volcano made it difficult to find resources in Africa which is why humans spread out into the rest of the world. watched this a few days ago on discovery channel...Regneb

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]They didn't live in areas where there was rock that could be broken and used by their hands.Insane00

Your saying that in all of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Asian islands there are no naturally occuring hand sized rocks that could be used to bash open nuts or bones? Sorry if I don't buy that.

[QUOTE="killtactics"][QUOTE="notconspiracy"][QUOTE="cowboymonkey21"][QUOTE="notconspiracy"]they aren't. there is no such thing as liner evolution. it is just adapting to one's environment. cowboymonkey21

[QUOTE="Insane00"]

[QUOTE="quiglythegreat"]They didn't live in areas where there was rock that could be broken and used by their hands.quiglythegreat

Your saying that in all of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Asian islands there are no naturally occuring hand sized rocks that could be used to bash open nuts or bones? Sorry if I don't buy that.

it all started with bipedalism, which freed up the arms in order to carry things and use tools. Being capable to use these tools changed the diet to include more meats, which made the brains grow to a very large size because of the protein. This made early humans smarter than the average animal but the moment that drastically changed all of this was around 70000 years ago when a super-volcano in Indonesia erupted and killed everyone except approximately 2000 of the smartest, strongest, and probably luckiest humans. The aftermath of the volcano made it difficult to find resources in Africa which is why humans spread out into the rest of the world. watched this a few days ago on discovery channel...Regneb

There is a possibility of this, but certainly no definite scientific evidence.

70,000 years ago there were human ancestors such as Homo Erectus all over the old world.

Neanderthals lived in Europe.

And Homo Sapiens (that is Cro magnon man, not homo sapiens sapiens aka modern man) had already begun traveling out of Africa.

Remember, Discover dumbs things down so folks with no formal training will be interested in what they say. 80% of the stuff they say in their specials is taken out of context and has very little world wide support, namely because the well known stuff isn't very interesting and doen't intrigue the average joe.

In some respects, they are more capable of thinking. Was watching one test where the numbers 1-9 all pop up on a screen. And the ape attempts to hit them all in numerical order. Chimps were significantly faster than humans. There was another test that involved the same procefure, except once the first symbol was hit, all the rest became blank and the chimps would continue to press them all in order. They did better than humans again. Shows that they can recognize and sequence symbols.