An argument for evolutionary convergence towards intelligence and complexity
Convergent Evolution
If we look closely at nature, we find that certain traits have evolved independently in unrelated species. This phenomenon, known as convergent evolution, has produced wings in both bats and insects — two very different evolutionary lineages. Similarly, eyes have developed in creatures as different as bees and humans. From an evolutionary standpoint, this makes perfect sense: traits that offer a survival advantage — such as the ability to fly or to see — are likely to evolve whenever the right conditions arise. In such circumstances, nature tends to “reinvent” these features, because the benefits they provide make them worth evolving again and again.
When we look at different planets or even on earth in different time zones, I argue that intelligence is something we will see everywhere - similar as we see wings and eyes on earth in all kinds of species. The argument I will lay down for this is a ressource-oriented perspective.
Evolution is ultimately about ressource exploitation
Energy exists in different forms, whether it is sunlight glucose or simply mater. But depending on its form it might be useful or not for an organism. Why is energy useful at all? Simply because it helps replicating. Organism need energy to replicate and do their evolutionary duty.
Ok, simply put we can pose two axioms. First, energy is useful for replication. Second, organisms try to use energy for replication.
Energy is not easy to use for replication and requires strategy to harvest and exploit it. From an evolutionary standpoint ‘simpler’ strategies evolve first. They transform energy or create byproducts. This allows to transform energy through different stages and apply dfferent strategies.
Chain of ressource complexity
For instance sunlight is a a form of energy used by plants in form of chloroplast. While there might be symbiosis leading to chloropast in cells, some form of complexity it seems like plant-based organism sucessfully filled the niche of harvesting sun light (except some lizards warming themselves in the sun).
Sunlight is transformed into glucose together with oxygen. Glucose is some form of energy that can be used for replication as well as by other organisms (in this case predators of plants) that exploit glucose and oxygen for their purposes. Therefore we have a chain of energy exploitation and sunlight gets used by ‘animal’ organisms via plant cells.
It seems like energy is squeezed out through this chain. Illustratively and simplified, sun light enteres earth and plants try to catch and use the energy. Through this process, not everything can be used and in part we have byproducts like fruits, stems or leaves. These byproduct can then be used by other organsism and so on. It is known that from 100 kg plants we can roughly feed 10 kg animal organisms and from this 10 kg roughly 1 kg predator. These 10% reduction is knwn inf the concept of trophy levels.
Highly complex to harvest ressources
There are certain ressources that are (probably) only tangible via intelligence. For instance, fusion energy is arguable only accessible via intelligence. While fusion energy might be on the end of the extremely clever spectrum, tactical movements, team work are not. Literature is full of examples that show survival benefits of intelligence. But we as humans can exploit ressources far more versatile than any other species can. That the human species replicated in an immense manner is also part of the result of far more efficient ressource handling. Starting from düngen….
Currently we see that we even transform sun energy directly into electricity, circumventing the path of plants doing the work and building on plant’s work.
Drivers of intelligence
From a ressource perspective, animals strive for ressources to survive and replicate and avoid getting used as a ressource by another organisms, e.g. avoid getting eaten or being infested by parasites. Intelligence in the broadest sense can help getting better here.
Some people understand intelligence as pattern matching. On a lower level pattern mathing like identifying prey or hunter) certainly helps in this regard. We understand intelligence as a form of information processing. The degree of its complexity is then a proxy for intelligence.
Hunting and getting hunted - the arms race
Intelligence can give organisms a clear advantage in acquiring resources. For example, a pack of wolves that can better identify prey and coordinate their hunting positions tactically gains a strong evolutionary edge. Similarly, a deer that can more effectively recognize dangerous areas — whether due to wolves, other predators, or parasites — also gains a survival and replication advantage. These two species are locked in an evolutionary arms race, benefiting greater intelligence across time.
Such competition can act as a powerful driver for the development of intelligence. This kind of arms race does not necessarilty fosters complementary forms of intelligence. For instance, the prey might run faster over time, while the predator evolves more tactical skills in the sense of teamwork across time.
Changing environments
Environments change. If we think of an unstable environment a complex organism needs different strategies to get their ressources, survive and replicate. Intelligence, including memory, pattern matching, or culture in form of communicating knowledge gives an evolutionary advantage and therefore a changing environment is a driver for intelligence. Changing environments
Finding/Transforming new ressources
Evolution is about filling niches. A niche can be understood as a very specific set of ressources and a set of conditions under which harvesting is possible. For instance, sun light might be the same ressource across the world, but depending on the climate zone etc. we have different conditions. Therefore a form of energy as well as the conditions under which they exist provide a niche. Niches can be found and are dynamically changing. For instance, after plants transform the biosphere, new potential niches arise. After a new organism enters the game, it can become a ressource for other organisms, hence a new new niche enters the game.
Some ressources need heavy investment before they can be harvested. Humans are a prime example of doing heavy investments, be it from collecting fire wood, to building a water mill or a nuklear power plant. Humans are extraordinary in having huge investments before return shows up. This might be partly explained by some playfulness inherent to human nature. This puts humans in the position of exploring new paths. Additionally, our communication structure allows us to accumulate minor insights into big ones: Humans live on the shoulder of giants.
Do animals also invest before they can harvest? Going on a hunt and finding traces of the prey, hunting in a pack are all invests and require a heavy load of intelligence. There is also evidence of animals using tools, but not as advanced as humans do. What humans do with tools and scientific niche entering is the human niche - kind of a meta niche.
The niche of engineering and constructive ingenuity
We can hypothesize that humans fill a particular niche, namely that of engineering. But why are humans so good at this task? There is probably not one single mutation that allows for this kind of talent and tendency. It might be in part explainable by sexual evolution. Rudimentary tool and weapon usage might be of evolutionary advantage in the advantage of humanity. If by sexual selection we breeded for engineering cleverness, this skill might skyrocketed over generations.
An interesting question is why do we see this level of engineering skill only in humans? Maybe because we filled this niche perfectly and eliminated every contenting species. History indicates at least that there have been contending species, using tools. Might this tell us that the niche of extensive tool usage as well as engineering is only one and one species will conquer this niche?
Tool usage and scientific knowledge acquistion allows for far more efficient ressource/energy usage. Farming is particularly interesting. In a controlled manner humans use a huge part of the entering sun light in form of plants or animals. This is an example of humans taking a larger proportion of the incoming sun light and therefore of the total available energy.
The costs of being intelligent
Intelligence is not for free. At least in mammals we observe that the brain consumes a large bulk of energy and this is probably the minor costs. Raising a human child comes with immense costs. At a certain point more intelligence in wolves or deer might be harmful due to the costs.
Intelligence in humans also requires exploration and generating new knowlegde. An immensely expensive endeavour. States spend X amount of euros for research and so do …
Wings are a feature that allow for ressource exploitation: Organisms with wings can reach difficult to reach regions, be very fast or similarly, reach regions difficult to find. As intelligence, wings are expensive -
What new ressources does intelligence unlock. Intelligence buys abundance, for instance in farming, more clever hunting techniques or conservation of food. But it also allows to open up new ressources. For instance in cooking, ressources are transformed to be more edible
Rhichness and variety of ressources
Sunlight is probably the basic and most primitive ressource on this planet. Plants can transform this energy in glucose and oxygen. other ogranisms can transform plants into more complex molecules and forms of energy/ressources. Therefore we can say that in an evolutionary timeline a planets energy gets used more and more efficient.
Conclusions
What does that mean for life in general and intelligence. If evolution strives for ressource exploitation, intelligence is on the path of evolution.
Appendix:
Requirements for developing scientific-intelligence?
- Hands?
- Things to get your hands on
Why did we see intelligence so late?
Imagine a human group started to use tools to be more efficient in hunting, defending or something similar. This might prove as extremely useful advantage over groups that use tools not as clever as they do. We have seen in history that groups get eliminated and the advance of one civilaication over another related to scientific disccoveries aka better tool usage. Once one group has an advantage in tool-usage over another, an arm race in between the groups should start. Ergo, once tools are used efficiently, we would expect a tool-usage revolution or scientific revolution.
Different Forms of intelligence
If we observe nature, we see some features, unrelated, evolving in different species. For instance, wings have been evolved in bats and insects - two different lineages. Eyes have been evolved in bees or in humans. From an evolutionary point of view it is logical to evolve features beneficial for surivival. Flying or seeing are beneficial under certain circumstances. Therefore it is beneficial to ‘evolve’ them.