Ants

[Owain]

"Nick Brooks" wrote | Is there a definition of "intelligence" that I've missed, perhaps one | specific to wasps?

Quite possibly, but unless you learn to talk/read/communicate in Waspish, you and the rest of the human species will never know.

It's a bit like gorillas and God. They have the thought abilities to conceive of a being separate from them and so in principle could formulate the idea of God. But because they don't have the ability to communicate that level of thought, every gorilla's God is his separate individual God and not a God common to all gorillas.

Or something. I read a very interesting book about it all several years ago.

Owain

[Owain]

"geoff" wrote | >| >We have scientists and engineers here, and one or two artists | >| >as well :-) | >| ... And a computer simulation | >Please, of what is IMM a computer simulation? | A sentient being ?

I think the programmers are just approaching the Dougal from Father Ted level of simulated sentient being then.

(Wicked thoughts of Bill Gates and the Pope at the launch party for Microsoft Priest)

Owain

[Graham Wilson]

In that case, explain to me why some people find Morcombe and Wise funny?

Graham

[N. Thornton]

The definitions of intelligence are open to debate. A definition I like is problem solving ability. One only has to see wasps dodging swipes to see they have problem solving ability.

Wasps learn enough to survive, understand some things, make judgements re food sources, and have opinions based on I guess experience and a basic level of reason. Bear in mind many humans are also incapable of reason.

Regards, NT

[Steve Firth]

Humans are not "supposed" to be anything, we just are. We choose, mostly, not to inflict pain on others just for pleasure but we are neither better than nor inferior to any other animal in this respect.

I usually find that Jains appart most people draw a line between animals they will cause unnecssary suffering to and those they will not based on Disney principles.

Save the Slug (c) Mike Fleming.