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Rated: 13+ · Book · Experience · #2223922

A tentative blog to test the temperature.

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#1109950 added March 6, 2026 at 11:05am
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Usable Intelligence
Usable Intelligence

Recently, I watched an interesting video about intelligence in the octopus. It seems that, in spite of their being so different from us that we might as well be aliens, octopi are remarkably intelligent, perhaps even to the extent of being self aware.

It was much later that I began to wonder what the point was. Why would evolution decide to experiment with intelligence in a creature so poorly designed to make use of it? The best I can say of it is that its arms have something approaching the versatility of hands. Apart from that, the octopus’ short life span, its preference for isolated living, and lack of vocal chords or some other way to communicate, would surely militate against it using intelligence in a meaningful way.

Much the same goes for the other animals that once seemed good instances of possible civilisation-forming intelligence. I’m sure it makes an enjoyable entertainment for them but never became the essential mutation it is for us.

So evolution seems to have tried intelligence on several life forms before deciding to put it into the one creature with hands, an upright posture so that the hands are free, amazingly versatile vocal chords, an addiction to communal living, and a life long enough to contribute to a civilisation.

It would be a pity if we screwed it up after all that.

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