PHYSICS 20E Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Observable Universe, Thumb, Exponential Growth
Document Summary
Defining intelligent is even more difficult than defining living. It has self awareness, asks what"s it all about? . It uses tools to manipulate its environment. It uses language to communicate with other intelligent beings. Dolphins communicate with contact calls and signature whistles. Chimpanzees and bonobos modify sticks and use them for termites. Intelligent beings develop a culture of behavior handed down from one generation to the next. Dolphins teach their children how to use sponges to protect their snout. Chimpanzees teach their children how to use crack nuts. Language is helpful for transmitting culture and complex information. Possibly existed in proto-humans as early as 1m yrs ago. Allows storage and transmission of even more information. Eq - encephalization quotient = brain mass divided by the average brain mass for body mass. Does seem like that animals that have big brains for their body size are clever.
