Another Brain Comparison

[catgate]

A matter which has found its way into my brain, from time to time, concernes brain size.

A mouse has a very small brain, which I suppose is fortunate because it has a very small head. A rat is quite a lot cleverer than a mouse and has a bigger brain. In fact the rat may probably be as clever as, or cleverer than, a dog. A sheep has a brain about the size of a normal human's, but is no where near as clever (politicians being excepted). A cow has a brain much bigger than a human's and is not even as clever as the mouse. The elephant, who never forgets, has a vast brain, but can still not avoid Armand and Michaela Denis et al.

All this can only make sense to me if there is a difference in the physical size of the thoughts which occupy and/or circulate in the brain.

So what does the WF panel of experts think about it all.

[Watchful]

I think it must be very difficult for an elephant to hide; considering its size

[AlanHo]

Whales have huge brains - but they are still stupid enough to go swimming near to Japan.

A cat's brain is smaller than most dog's brains but they seem to be more intelligent. Hence it is clearly not the size of the brain than determines intelligence, but another parameter.

Take John Prescott as an example - physically he had a very large head way above average size - hence his brain is likely to have a larger volume than the average human - yet few would regard him as having above average intelligence. Unless of course, we re-examine what we mean by intelligence. If it is measured as the ability of a living organism to thrive in a hostile environment - then Prescott and Blair would be way above average. They sailed through life and made great profit at the expense of millions of others who we would regard - by normal convention - as having more intelligence.

This indicates that we need to take another look at what we mean by intelligence and how it should be measured. This would also help solve the riddle as to why elephants find it difficult to hide.

[catgate]

I tried to avoid mentioning Dolphins and Whales. They are not as clever as people often think because they are nearly always in schools.

As far as elephants are concerned, being pachyderms they have adequate hide.

[Watchful]

They do in fact have an adequate hide but not as adequate as the one that the couple are shooting from. The secret must lie in the camouflage

[AlanHo]

Ive got some camouflage trousers somewhere- but I can't see them.

[andsome]

Whales have huge brains - but they are still stupid enough to go swimming near to Japan.

A cat's brain is smaller than most dog's brains but they seem to be more intelligent. Hence it is clearly not the size of the brain than determines intelligence, but another parameter.

Take John Prescott as an example - physically he had a very large head way above average size - hence his brain is likely to have a larger volume than the average human - yet few would regard him as having above average intelligence. Unless of course, we re-examine what we mean by intelligence. If it is measured as the ability of a living organism to thrive in a hostile environment - then Prescott and Blair would be way above average. They sailed through life and made great profit at the expense of millions of others who we would regard - by normal convention - as having more intelligence.

This indicates that we need to take another look at what we mean by intelligence and how it should be measured. This would also help solve the riddle as to why elephants find it difficult to hide.

Sounds good except for the bit about cats. I would not call them intelligent, just extremely cunning.