The Dragons of Eden

The Dragons of Eden, Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence is a Pulitzer prize winning 1977 book by Carl Sagan. In it, he combines the fields of anthropology, evolutionary biology, psychology, and computer science to give a well balanced perspective of how human intelligence evolved.

Related Topics:
Pulitzer prize - 1977 - Carl Sagan - Anthropology - Evolution - Biology - Psychology - Computer science - Intelligence

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One of the more interesting parts of the book is the search for a quantitative way of measuring intelligence. He shows that the ratio of brainmass/bodymass is an extremely good indicator, with humans having the highest and dolphins second (Pages 38-40, Hardback edition). It does break down, however, at the extreme small end of the scale. Because a certain minimum size is needed to sustain life, smaller creatures (ants in particular) place disproportionally high on the list.

Related Topics:
Ratio - Human - Dolphin - Ant

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Here, "intelligence" refers to those mental capacities wherein humans excel.

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See

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• brain to body mass ratio