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Once life is established, is the evolution of intelligence inevitable? (continued)

Garry Trethewey
Cherryville, South Australia

Probably not. Wings have evolved four times – in birds, bats, pterosaurs and insects. Legs and eyes have also evolved multiple times. Swimming ability has also evolved many times.

But intelligence has only evolved once, very recently. Is it useful? Is it a survival trait? Is it somehow better than not-intelligence? Given the 8 billion of us versus the vastly greater numbers of microbes and how long they have been around, I would put my money on the microbes.

And if we take a lead…