Intelligence as Transformed Instinct: A Hypothesis on the Origins of Human Thought
Intelligence as Transformed Instinct: A Hypothesis on the Origins of Human Thought Abstract This article proposes a working hypothesis: intelligence initially emerged in early hominins as an innate, genetically encoded survival mechanism —a form of instinct. What distinguishes humans from other intelligent species is not that they possessed this capacity, but that they managed to shape, control, and transform it into something that could be cultivated and transmitted across generations. The term “instinct” is used deliberately to frame the hypothesis and stimulate discussion. 1. Introduction: The Problem Early hominins lived in an environment where they were often prey rather than predators. Larger, stronger, and faster hunters posed a constant threat. Under these conditions, survival required an advantage that was not purely physical. The question I wish to raise is this: What was the nature of that advantage in its earliest form? 2. The Hypothesis I argue that intell...
