Evolution and humans: big brain size uses energy (Evolution)

by David Turell , Monday, October 30, 2017, 16:23 (2579 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: Computers were developed because early on it was recognized how useful they would be. I think from your comments, that you do not understand capitalism. The need was recognized and then computers were developed and improved so the manufacturers could make profits, pure and simple.

dhw: You tried to draw an analogy between brain expansion and the complexification of computers! You now agree that the need for computers/more complex computers preceded their making. What would have been the use of making/complexifying computers if there was no need for them? What would have been the use of expanding the brain if there was no need to expand it? In both cases, expansion/complexification were a response to the need, so although the analogy is not a good one, thank you for offering it and supporting my argument.

I am not supporting your twisted argument! Each stage of hominin development, did not know what they did not know. Development of more complex computers occurred because thinking industrialists recognized a need. In the case of evolution, God recognized the need for better brains and with each stage created better ones for proto-humans to survive and use them to provide improved artifacts for a better life. Habilis did not sit around the fire in the cave and say I need to have a bigger brain. He could not will it. God could.
=

Dhw: In any case, the artifacts cannot possibly tell us which came first: the idea for the artifacts or the larger brain that enabled them to be produced.

DAVID: As for artifacts, more sophisticated ones appeared associated only with larger brains. The inference that larger brains were the source, strongly implies the larger brains were required to allow the inventiveness.

dhw: “Associated” does not mean the larger brain came first! It would also be “associated” if the idea of the artefact PRECEDED the expansion. If there is a “soul” which does our inventive thinking, larger brains would only be required to “allow” the implementation of our inventive thoughts. The idea precedes the implementation.

Larger brains are required to implement invention. Thank you for supporting me, finally. Having the idea to force a larger brain is impossible, if the brain cannot be used to think of the idea. Artifacts found at each level of brain development support the interpretation of that brain's soul's ability to create. Larger size, better creation. you have it all backwards.