re. Smarter/Better.

The real advantage of intelligence comes in social vertebrates like ourselves. Being able to predict & understand the behaviors of peers has huge advantages not only for the individual but for the group.

Even though the hardware of intelligence requires about 20% of the body's food/oxygen intake, the ability to coordinate complex group behaviors more than makes up for that cost by providing; not only more resources in the present, but the ability to plan & produce even more in the future.

When the ability to store & transmit intelligence through non-biological means (writing/reading) is developed, a further huge potential is created.

At that point, the "cost" of intelligence becomes minute compared to the "value" of potential benefits.

(Although invertebrate social animals like ants or bees can exhibit complex behaviors, this is an emergent property of their simple behavioral repertoire, rather than "intelligence". Regardless of whether "learning" is exhibited by individuals or not.)

RE smarter/better...don't forget...we decide how smart we really are...no other living thing cares one single hoot!

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