Intelligence in the abstract consumes experience (a much lower-level concept than either atoms or environment) and attempts to compute “understanding”—a predictive model of the underlying rules. Even very high intelligence wouldn’t necessarily make a perfect model, given misleading input.
BUT
Intelligence is still a strictly more-is-stronger thing in a predictable universe. Which is what I read you as meaning by “all things being equal”. Even if there is a theoretical limit on intelligence, nothing that exists comes remotely close. Even if there are confounding inputs, more intelligence will compensate better. Even if there are adverse circumstances, more intelligence will be better at predicting ahead of time and laying plans. Surprised human: lion gets lunch. Forewarned human: lion becomes a rug.
Intelligence is still a strictly more-is-stronger thing in a predictable universe.
Edit: By definition it is, but we have to be careful with what we say is obviously more intelligent. An animal with a larger more complex brain might be said to be less intelligent than another if he can’t get enough food to feed it. Because it will not be around to use its brain and steer the future.
This is why all animals brains aren’t being expanded by evolution.
Evolution makes trade-offs for resources. No good having a better brain you can’t afford to fuel.
“Predictability” as I used the word means laws of physics that can be inferred from experience. (Versus no laws, or no usable evidence.) Other intelligences don’t make the universe unpredictable.
Intelligence in the abstract consumes experience (a much lower-level concept than either atoms or environment) and attempts to compute “understanding”—a predictive model of the underlying rules. Even very high intelligence wouldn’t necessarily make a perfect model, given misleading input.
BUT
Intelligence is still a strictly more-is-stronger thing in a predictable universe. Which is what I read you as meaning by “all things being equal”. Even if there is a theoretical limit on intelligence, nothing that exists comes remotely close. Even if there are confounding inputs, more intelligence will compensate better. Even if there are adverse circumstances, more intelligence will be better at predicting ahead of time and laying plans. Surprised human: lion gets lunch. Forewarned human: lion becomes a rug.
Edit: By definition it is, but we have to be careful with what we say is obviously more intelligent. An animal with a larger more complex brain might be said to be less intelligent than another if he can’t get enough food to feed it. Because it will not be around to use its brain and steer the future.
This is why all animals brains aren’t being expanded by evolution.
Evolution makes trade-offs for resources. No good having a better brain you can’t afford to fuel.
“Predictability” as I used the word means laws of physics that can be inferred from experience. (Versus no laws, or no usable evidence.) Other intelligences don’t make the universe unpredictable.
In order to be able to make predictions about the world it is not enough to know just the laws of physics, you have to know the current state.
It is easier to infer the state of some non-intelligences than it is intelligences.