If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal: What Animal Intelligence Reveals About Human Stupidity

by Justin Gregg

A reality in which the Earth is bursting with animal species that have hit on solutions for how to live a good life in ways that put the human species to shame.

Humans are the why specialist species. It is one of a handful of cognitive traits that separates our thinking style from other animals.

Lying: a method for intentionally transmitting false information to another creature with the express purpose of making that creature believe something that is not true to manipulate its behavior.

It’s the idea that even though humans are indeed exceptional when it comes to our cognition, it does not mean we are better at the game of life than other animals. In fact, because of this paradox, humans might be a less successful species precisely because of our amazing, complex intelligence.

Think of the happiness it would spread throughout the animal kingdom if humans suddenly stopped doing all the destructive things that make us human.

Because we are indeed exceptional if not necessarily “good,” we have generated more death and destruction for life on this planet than any other animal, past and present.