As I understand one basic premise of the theory of evolution,
survival of the fittest prefers individuals that live longer, breed
faster and leave more progeny. Yet two traits we possess – sleep and
intelligence – seem to contradict this preference.
Sleep works against survival for, while sleeping, an individual can
hardly defend against attack and consumption. So evolution would seem
to have selected those individuals needing less and less sleep, until
sleep would no longer be needed. Yet today, maybe one billion years
after speciation began, we still need our 8 hours of sleep.
Intelligence also seems to disprove the all-encompassing scope of
evolution. Those individuals better able to recall experience and
predict the future would have an advantage in food-gathering, mate
selection and progeny protection. Yet we hardly seem smarter today
than humans living thousands of years ago.
Are these traits exceptions to evolution? Are there other exceptions?
I expect so. But no one discusses them. Why not?
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