Calculus, Logic, Music and the Human Brain

[Statler Waldorf]

The short answer is that these unique abilities developed as our brains evolved, obviously.

So you are saying that selective pressures weeded out the humans who did not possess enough cognitive capacity thus preserving those that did? So exactly when did we develop the ability to think logically and to conduct advanced mathematics? Would this have been around the time of the great philosophers in Greece around 4,500 years ago? Calculus first appeared in the 17th century, is this when humans developed the cognitive ability to do it?

Adaptation and good breeding. Humans are very selective when it comes to breeding. Why are women's breasts so large when compared to other animals? We try to find the perfect mate. Not just physical beauty, but also for intellect. I'm just generalizing here, but usually a good looking attractive person will find another attractive person, and have children with them. The parents will pass their genes down and a very high chance that child will be very good looking. Same with highly intelligent people. All of my college professors this semester have a spouse, and each of their spouses are, you guessed it, professors as well. Now, do you think that people that are intelligent will raise their kids to be ignorant and "stupid"?

First of all I have to admit, you have got the coolest avatar, sig, and username on this forum.

That being said, are you saying that ugly and stupid people don’t find other ugly and stupid people to mate with and pass their genes on with?

Face it, if you are not good looking, dumb as a rock, and don't have any money, it will be extremely difficult to find a mate that will want to have offspring with you.

Not unless she is all of these things you mentioned too.

Animals have done the same, but somewhere along the line humans have adapted to use their brains more. What weapons and defenses do humans have? No fangs, no claws, no tough skin etc. Without the development of the human brain, our species would be dead in the wild.

Ok, I understand that, but did humans have the mental capacity to do things like calculus before they were invented?

Not the biggest fan of history. I'm a fan of applied sciences, where you can examine and manipulate objects. I like the fact that we can learn from history not to make the same mistakes as our ancestors from long ago, but it's history. The past. Cya.

I like the observational sciences far better myself.