CULTURAL QA 02202426
Q1 What caused humans to evolve into having exceptional intelligence?
What conditions caused that evolution?
KR Evolution of the brain and intelligence {Quora cannot even know
about it; and it is petty I had given here.}
Intelligence has evolved many times independently among vertebrates.
Primates, elephants and cetaceans are assumed to be more intelligent than
‘lower’ mammals, the great apes and humans more than monkeys, and humans
more than the great apes. Brain properties assumed to be relevant for
intelligence are the (absolute or relative) size of the brain, cortex,
prefrontal
cortex <https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/prefrontal-cortex> and
degree of encephalization
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/encephalization>. However,
factors that correlate better with intelligence are the number of cortical
neurons and conduction velocity, as the basis for information-processing
capacity. Humans have more cortical neurons than other mammals, although
only marginally more than whales and elephants. The outstanding
intelligence of humans appears to result from a combination and enhancement
of properties found in non-human primates, such as theory of mind
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/theory-of-mind>, imitation
and language, rather than from ‘unique’ properties.
Introduction
Animals differ in intelligence, and humans are usually considered to be by
far the most intelligent. However, it is unclear which brain properties
might explain these differences. Furthermore, the question of whether
properties such as a theory of mind, imitation or a syntactical language
are uniquely found in humans is hotly debated. Finally, recent reports on
high intelligence in animals with relatively small brains, such as corvid
birds and dogs, has raised once again the discussion about the relationship
between brain and intelligence 1, 2.
In this context, we will address the following questions: (1) How can we
define and measure animal intelligence? (2) What differences in
intelligence are supposed to exist among animals and between animals and
humans? (3) When we relate differences in intelligence to brain properties,
which properties should we look for? (4) Are differences, especially those
between humans and other mammals, quantitative or qualitative in nature?
How do we define and measure intelligence?
There is no universally accepted definition of animal intelligence, or
procedure to measure it. Intelligence may be defined and measured by the
speed and success of how animals, including humans, solve problems to
survive in their natural and social environments . These include, for
example, problems related to feeding, spatial orientation, social
relationships and intraspecific communication. However, what animals must
learn in their environments and how they accomplish this can be a profound
research.
Supposed differences in intelligence
Using mental and behavioural flexibility as a criterion for intelligence,
among tetrapod vertebrates, mammals and birds appear (on average) to be
more intelligent. Among birds, corvids, parrots and owls are considered
more intelligent, and among mammals, primates and cetaceans. Among
primates, apes come out as more intelligent than monkeys, and monkeys more
than prosimians; and among apes, chimpanzees, bonobos and humans appear to
be particularly intelligent .
Neural correlates of intelligence
The question arises of how to relate these supposed differences in
intelligence to brain properties, and which properties we should compare.
These could either be general properties, if we assume that the evolution
of intelligence is based on an increase in ‘information processing
capacities’ or specialities of anatomy or physiology of different brains,
if we conceive intelligence as a number of special adaptations to a given
environment .
The search for cortical specialties
So far, we have dealt with possible correlations between general
problem-solving ability and general brain traits. The alternative is to
look for adaptive specializations within the brains of vertebrate or
mammalian taxa. In cognitive ecology, some experts view responses to
challenges from the environment as a basis for an increase in cognitive
capacities and brain complexity, whereas others emphasize a correlation
with the complexity of social relationships.
Do humans and their brains have unique properties?
There is a long tradition that ascribes properties to humans that are
supposedly not found in other animals. The most cited are causal
understanding of mechanisms of tool use, tool-making,
syntactical–grammatical language, consciousness, self-awareness, imitation,
deception and theory of mind. There is evidence, however that great apes
possess at least some states of consciousness found in humans; Deception
has been widely observed among monkeys.
Conclusions
If we define animal intelligence as the degree of mental or behavioural
*flexibility* resulting in novel solutions, either in the wild or in the
laboratory, we can conclude that among tetrapod, mammals and birds are more
intelligent, and among mammals, humans are more intelligent than members of
other taxa. Differences in intelligence among the great apes, cetaceans and
elephants are not sufficiently tested, but these taxa all appear to be more
intelligent than monkeys.
How do we define and measure intelligence?
There is no universally accepted definition of animal intelligence, or
procedure to measure it. Intelligence may be defined and measured by the
speed and success of how animals, including humans, solve problems to
survive in their natural and social environments. These include, for
example, problems related to feeding, spatial orientation, social
relationships and intraspecific communication. So not forest fire and food
preparations as alleged which is basic 250000 years before may be.
Using mental and behavioural flexibility as a criterion for intelligence,
among tetrapod vertebrates, mammals and birds appear (on average) to be
more intelligent. Among birds, corvids, parrots and owls are considered
more intelligent, and among mammals, primates and cetaceans . Among
primates, apes come out as more intelligent than monkeys, and monkeys more
than prosimians; and among apes, chimpanzees, bonobos and humans appear to
be particularly intelligent
There is a long tradition that ascribes properties to humans that are
supposedly not found in other animals. The most cited are causal
understanding of mechanisms of tool use, tool-making,
syntactical–grammatical language, consciousness, self-awareness, imitation,
deception and theory of mind. [ E.M. MacPhail Brain and Intelligence in
Vertebrates Science world San Deigo Neural research-J Ramachandran]
For the time being opened up. K Rajaram IRS 25//26/2/24
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Q2 Why did Albert Einstein hold women in low regard?
KR A flawed observations or gossip interwoven, twisting the words as
few mad caps do in the world, without reading in between the lines.
American society 2024 (an organisation having research centres all over had
rendered an article on this; the low ones only as some do exist always,
twisting phrases on this earth called the perverts wrote such incongruent
theory; American society will reject such mean from awards angle itself.
Einstein and Women by Nina Byers
C. P. Snow wrote regarding Albert Einstein, "To me he appears as out of
comparison the greatest intellect of this century, and almost certainly the
greatest personification of moral experience." Snow’s assertion is nearly
uncontroversial in this "Einstein Year" in which we celebrate the centenary
of publication of his great 1905 papers. But during Einstein’s lifetime, he
was vilified by people who found objectionable some political views he
expressed. He was an avowed socialist, and he was a staunch defender of
civil liberties and human rights as well as a pacifist throughout most of
his life. J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
kept him under surveillance after he emigrated to the United States in
1933. The copious file compiled by the FBI is detailed by Fred Jerome in a
recent book. With one possible exception, what is known about Einstein’s
life supports Snow’s assertions. The exception has to do with critical
views expressed with regard to the tragic failure of his first marriage and
reported infidelities in his second. One finds, for example, that Jerome
refers to many published works saying "there is no doubt about Einstein’s
sexism." This is an inaccurate and misleading statement. It does not take
into account the many interactions of Einstein with women in his scientific
and public life. There is no known evidence indicating that his treatment
of female physicists, mathematicians and other professionals was anything
but exemplary. This is in stark contrast with the widespread gender
discrimination that was practised by scientists and scientific institutions
in his lifetime*. From a historical point of view it is worthwhile to draw
a distinction between Einstein’s behaviour with women in his public life
and with female partners in his private life.*
Information about the scientific lives of women who contributed to physics
in the twentieth century is becoming widely available. History records
numerous instances of sexist behaviour on the part of physicists. For
example, Max Planck admonished Lise Meitner at a reception for young
physicists in Berlin in 1908 "Fraulein Meitner I understand you have a
doctorate from the University of Vienna, what more do you want?" Another
more egregious example was the treatment of Henrietta Leavitt by Edward C.
Pickering, head of the Harvard College Observatory. After her discovery of
the period—luminosity relation of Cepheid variable stars, which enabled
measurement of intergalactic distances for the first time (this was
published under Pickering’s name in 1912—see
http://cwp.library.ucla.edu/articles/leavitt/leavitt.note.html), Leavitt
was obliged to go back to work in photographic photometry rather than
pursue the consequences of her discovery. Sexism in the professional sphere
caused female scientists major difficulties in the twentieth century. However,
the record so far as we know it does not show any evidence of such behavior
on the part of Albert Einstein. On the contrary we have evidence he treated
the women with whom he interacted scientifically and professionally with
dignity and respect, and gave them unequivocal career help when needed. For
example, he wrote letters for Marietta Blau when, as an Austrian refugee
from the Nazis in 1938, she needed a job. A letter in the Einstein Archive
in The Hebrew University in Jerusalem speaks of her excellence as an
accomplished experimental physicist without the usual caveat such as "among
the best women working in the field". And finally, one might mention a note
he wrote to David Hilbert in 1916 regarding Emmy Noether saying "It would
not have done the old guard at Göttingen any harm had they picked up a
thing or two from her."
The question of Einstein’s role in relation to his first wife Mileva Maric’
is complex. In the years they studied together in Zurich before the birth
of their children, he freely and unabashedly shared his passion for physics
with her. This is clear from the letters he wrote to her in this period. No
signs of sexism there. But it is clear that from the early days of the
marriage he did not share domestic chores equally with her. Indeed, she
wrote to her friend Helene Savic’ in 1903, two and a half months after they
married, "We have a nice little household which I am taking care of quite
alone." It is unlikely they had domestic help. Albert’s salary from his job
in the patent office was quite low. Given the environment in which he was
raised, it seems unrealistic to expect him to have washed diapers and fixed
meals for his wife and infant son. Not without love for his wife and son,
born May 14, 1904, he nevertheless devoted attention when he could to
physics. His wife wanted more time with him than he was able to give. From
her letters it would seem that in the competition between the demands of
his physics and his wife, physics won out. The joyous life they had had
together did not persist beyond the birth of their second son. For female
physicists, it is difficult not to be sympathetic with Mileva but it is
also difficult to disparage Albert. What is not difficult, however, is to
disparage the historic gender discrimination and institutional denial of
support and equal opportunity faced by women wanting to do physics. It is
notable, therefore, that the historical record indicates Einstein treated
female physicists with dignity and respect and did not engage in the gender
exclusion which was common among his contemporaries.
Nina Byers is research professor and professor emeritus of physics at UCLA
and Visiting Scholar, Harvard University. She is past chair of the APS
Forum on History of Physics.
She would like to acknowledge helpful comments from historians and
archivists of the Einstein papers, Gerald Holton, John Stachel, Diana
Buchwald, and Ze’ev Rosenkranz.
For further reading: Fred Jerome, The Einstein File, St. Martin’s Press,
2003.
Albert Einstein/Mileva Maric’: the Love Letters edited and with an
introduction by Jürgen Renn and Robert Schulmann and translated by Shawn
Smith, Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press, 1992.
In Albert’s Shadow: The Life and Letters of Mileva Maric’, Einstein’s First
Wife, edited by Milan Popovic’, The Johns Hopkins University Press,
Baltimore, 2003.
Lise Meitner, "The Status of Women in the Professions," Physics Today,
August 1960.
K Rajaram IRS 26224
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On Sun, 25 Feb 2024 at 18:49, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> CULTURAL QA 02-2024-26
>
> All the below QA are from Quora DIGEST to me on 26-02-2024.
>
> Selected quora answers generally interesting are included .Still they need
> not be 100% correct answers. I am only a compiler.
>
> Compiled and posted by R. Gopala Krishnan, 80, on 26-02-2024.
>
> Q1 What caused humans to evolve into having exceptional
> intelligence? What conditions caused that evolution?
>
> A1 Claire Jordan,1y
>
> A nearby supernova led to an increase in electrical storms, which burned
> off a lot of dry brush land in Africa.
>
> A group of semi-bipedal, moderately intelligent apes moved out onto the
> newly cleared plains.
>
> Those who were most bipedal did best and had the most offspring, because
> they were able to see over the grassland to spot both predators and prey
> from a long way away.
>
> As they became more bipedal they became chase hunters, with a lot of meat
> in their diet.
>
> Being fully bipedal freed up their hands to become more dexterous, so they
> were able to make better tools. That made it an advantage to be highly
> intelligent in order to design ever better tools, even though big brains
> take a lot of energy to run and makes childbirth more risky.
>
> At some point they discovered fire, and cooking. That made it *much*
> easier to develop higher intelligence. Partly it was because cooking
> released more nutrients in their diet. Partly it was because cooking made
> food easier to chew. Other great apes have jaw muscles which strap across
> their skull, but by cooking food, and otherwise breaking it down with their
> tools, humans no longer needed such strong jaws. It became possible for
> humans to develop smaller jaw muscles and thus to free up their skulls to
> become more domed, enabling higher intelligence and ever-better tools.
>
> Q2 Why did Albert Einstein hold women in low regard?
>
> A2 Jean-Marie Valheur, read about a genius or two7h
>
> A little girl wrote a letter to Albert Einstein, in 1946. She had written
> in a previous letter about being a young kid who wanted to be a scientist…
> in her new letter, she “admitted” to a terrible flaw — being a girl. And
> she asked, did Einstein mind?[1]
>
> His answer was short, and sweet:
>
> I do not mind that you are a girl, but the main thing is that you yourself
> do not mind. There is no reason for it.
>
> That about sums up Einstein’s views on women. He didn’t mind them. Didn’t
> think more of them, nor less of them. Welcomed them to have a career in
> science if they felt the same calling he did. And yes, he was a womanizer
> and a bit of a cad but here’s the thing about womanizers people don’t
> tell you — they listen to women more and often treat them better than any
> hateful incel who can’t get any.
>
> Albert Einstein was absolutely fine with women. He did not hold them in
> low regard, did not look down on them, didn’t discourage them from dreaming
> of one day being a scientist just like him. Great minds have no time for
> petty beliefs and judge people by their own merits.
>
> Footnotes[1]Einstein's Advice to Women in Science Still Relevant More
> Than 60 Years Later
>
> Q3 What culture shocks can a South Indian face in North India?
>
> A3 Akshadha. Research Scholar. Educator. Writer . 6h
>
> I remember being to Chennai . An aunty ( The landlord’s wife ) asked me my
> homestate .
>
> I said I am from Chandigarh. She exclaimed “Oh you are from Haryana ,
> Panjab ..where women cover their heads “
>
> In south India covering head with dupatta or saree pallu is not the norm .
> ***Rather it is considered a bad omen and related to mourning.
>
> In North India pallu is a mark of married women . It is socially
> acceptable and cherished as a mark of respect for elders. Though it acts as
> a cultural shock to South Indians.
>
> My note- *** Condition is much changed in south. Most working women in
> south in paddy fields, open areas, put pallu over head for the hot sun in
> summer. Further Muslims normally cover head, Christians cover head while
> going to church.
>
> Q4 Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee in St.
> Peters Square. ☕👨👨👨👨👩
>
> A4 Rebecca C.,11h
>
> Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee in St. Peters
> Square.
>
> The first Catholic man tells his friends, "My son is a priest, when he
> walks into a room, everyone calls him 'Father'."
>
> The second Catholic man chirps, "My son is a Bishop. When he walks into a
> room people call him 'Your Grace'."
>
> The third Catholic gent says, "My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a
> room everyone bows their head and says 'Your Eminence'."
>
> The fourth Catholic man says very proudly, "My son is the Pope. When he
> walks into a room people call him 'Your Holiness'."
>
> Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four
> men give her a subtle, "Well ...?"
>
> She proudly replies, "I have a daughter, slim, tall, 38" DD bust, 24"
> waist and 34" hips.
>
> When she walks into a room, everybody says, "Oh My God."
>
> Q5 Can you tell me something inspiring?
>
> A5 Vansh Jaiswal 5y
>
> This boy, he is one of the most determined, hard working persons with
> ethical values. He sells Lemons every Sunday. Last Sunday my neighbour
> aunty called him for purchasing lemons, I'm living in government apartment
> and my room is on 3rd floor. He came up with his basket of lemon, I also
> asked my mother that she want lemon or not, she said No. After that the
> conversation between this boy and my neighbour aunty is like that.
>
> She : how you're giving them ? He: ₹10 for 4 lemon.
>
> She: you're robbing us ! give me 4 lemons in ₹5
>
> He: No aunty this price is not worth for me, I can't give you 4 lemons in
> ₹5.
>
> After so much discussion he became sad and finally he give 6 lemons in ₹10.
>
> After selecting 6 juicy lemons aunty closed her door for bringing money.
>
> He looks so tired and sad. I offered him a glass of water and asked him
> about the reason of sadness.
>
> Me : why are you so upset ? He: I'm in lose, but I need money.
>
> Me: then why you're selling your lemon at low cost ?
>
> He: because I need money for food and my school fees.
>
> Me: so you're in school, In which class ? He: class 6th.
>
> Me: then why you're selling lemons ? Where's your father ?
>
> He: because there is no one in my home who earns money for us. Before
> going my father told me that you've to work hard for earning as well as
> you've to continue your study because this is the only way through which
> you can face every problem.
>
> Me : ( I'm shocked after listening these lines, I never expect these lines
> from a class 6th kid who is so much matured.) I again asked, where's your
> father ?
>
> He: My father is no more, he died last year due to pneumonia.
>
> Me : ( Again I'm shocked, I get goosebumps after hearing this) when you
> are going to school and when you're working ?
>
> He: I'm going school daily, I came back from school at 2pm after that I
> work on a Chaat shop. Every sunday I sell Lemons for extra income.
>
> Aunty came back, she gives him ₹10 and he left.
>
> After this I'm thinking about him that how a 12–13 years old kid is so
> matured, he takes the responsibility of his family as well as he
> continues his study while working. He learned so much about life at very
> early age, for us it is very difficult to maintain our study or job but
> this guy is maintaining everything simultaneously.
>
> The one thing which stunned me is his ethics and values. He lost his
> father but the values of his father are still in his heart and he is
> fulfilling his father's dream. His father was definitely a great man who
> taught his child the value of hard work and importance of education.
>
> he didn't know that I captured his picture, these are 2 more images
>
> The thing which inspired me is that how a boy making balance between his
> work, study and responsibilities of his house. He also maintains the
> ethics and values of his late father. Whereas many of the youth are not
> able to focus on a single thing.
>
> This guy is inspiration for us that we need to take responsibility and
> learn how to manage multiple important things simultaneously and he also
> proved the importance of ethics and values of our parent
>
> My note- These things happen in a country where child labour is
> prohibited. If the Government really help these families??!!
>
>
>
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