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From: "James P. Lynch III" <jlynch@oacs.nswc.navy.mil>
Subject: Re: Computers--Next stage in evolution? 
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On 5 May 1995, John Hopson wrote:
> "James P. Lynch III" <jlynch@oacs.nswc.navy.mil> writes:
> 
>     This is a good point, but it doesn't work.  The very fact that we
> have intelligence, and our success due to that intelligence, argues for
> it being  beneficial.  A smarter worm could know not to go onto the
> surface at night or during a rainstorm.
Might want to define success.  A worm needs a certain level of 
intelligence commensurate with its "worm-ness."  Too much or too little 
would be detrimental (I would hypothesize).  

> 
>     Hmmm... Could the evolution of intelligence be dependant on the
> degree of sensory organs possible?  The worm body plan doesn't allow
> much in the way of sensory systems.  Can anybody think of a body plan
> better designed for sensory  processing than the mammal one?
No doubt; isn't there some evidence that brain size in humans grew as 
bodily functional capabilities increased (bi-pedal walking, opposing 
thumbs, for example).  Stands to reason that creatures that have more 
sensors and therefore more information coming in, have to have some means 
for processing it.  
   Lots of room for broad-spectrum sensors.  Problem seems to be that the 
primary human sensors (eyes, ears) are fragile.  Also, the eyes in 
particular have a focusing capability that other senses don't match.  
That seems to have been an important sensory feature for higher order 
animals.
