2.11 Intelligence behaviors

Intelligence contains programmed behaviors

Intelligence certainly influences the behavior of an entire species in ways that enhance the whole species survival and reproduction, rather than the survival of individuals within a given species.

Intelligence allows individuals to adapt to changing environments and to develop new strategies for survival and reproduction, which can give them a competitive advantage over other individuals in the same species. Intelligence can enable individuals to solve problems, and innovate. For example, some species of birds have been observed using tools to obtain food, and some primates have been observed using complex communication systems to coordinate group activities.

A group of individuals with higher Intelligence may be better able to find and exploit new sources of food, avoid predators, and communicate with one another, leading to increased survival and reproductive success. These advantages may not necessarily benefit the entire species as a whole, but rather only those individuals who possess the advantageous Intelligence traits.

By using their Intelligence to solve problems and adapt to changing environments, these species are able to increase their chances of survival and reproduction. In addition, the collective Intelligence of a species can lead to the development of social structures and behaviors that enhance the survival and reproduction of the species as a whole, rather than just individual members.

In socially structured species, such as ants, bees, and wolves, individual behavior is tightly regulated by social norms and hierarchies, which can enhance the survival and reproduction of the group as a whole, but can functionally discard some individuals that are deemed less well suited to the survival of the group. These social structures can be viewed as a form of collective Intelligence that enables the group to coordinate activities, defend against predators, allocate resources more effectively, and optimise survival.

Overall, Intelligence certainly influences the behavior of unique individuals in ways that enhance survival and reproduction, and can lead to the development of collective behaviors and social structures that benefit the Intelligence and survival of the species as a whole.