(October 7, 2011 at 12:16 am)Justtristo Wrote: Those great philosophers in Greece existed 2500 years ago or so, not 4500 years ago.
You’re right, my mistake.
(October 7, 2011 at 1:52 am)Stue Denim Wrote:
Well I agree with what you are saying except for one small point. How is it possible for an individual to develop the intelligence necessary to do calculus if he were not using this intelligence? Since evolution is driven by necessity, developing the intelligence to do things that are not actually being done would in reality be a hindrance to the individual because energy would be spent developing and maintaining an ability that was not being used right?
(October 7, 2011 at 2:07 am)Rayaan Wrote: Not necessarily, because even if calculus first appeared in the 17th century, this doesn't mean that this is the exact time when humans developed the ability to do calculus.
…but you would admit that the mathematicians of Newton’s generation had developed a greater cognitive ability than the mathematicians of say the 1st century?
(October 7, 2011 at 9:16 am)Rhythm Wrote: We've been equipped with the same headgear for a long time. Could our earliest human ancestors have understood calculus? Yes, they could have if they received an education similar to our own.
Not according to Darwinian Evolution, mental processes and abilities would have to be developed through necessity and selection just like physical abilities. It’s no different than saying dinosaurs possessed the ability to fly before they developed wings and evolved into present day birds.
(October 7, 2011 at 10:43 am)Loading Please Wait Wrote: I think we had to mental capacity to do them, but not the intuition or the need at the time before it was invented. Many people's main goal in the past was to simply survive and pass on their genes. The few who did think and comprehend these maths were lucky and had the time and money to do so. A regular peasant wasn't worried about the derivative of 3x²-4x-1 was. The regular peasant and workers were worried about surviving another night with no food and clothes. As the people like Newton and other mathmeticians and physicist came along, they gradually found ways to improve lives to where less people were starving and working in the fields.
Ok, this is where you lose me. How could humans develop the mental capacity for something that is not providing any advantage to the organism through Darwinian means which is based off of necessity and survival?
