[cmdrfred]

I'm sorry. It is preposterous to claim an elephant has greater level of intelligence than a human being. Cooperative behaviors require little individual intelligence (look at ants or bees). It is competitive and predatory behaviors that require cunning and sophistication. We are more intelligent because we have been constantly doing battle with the apex predator on this planet since the dawn of our existence. Conflict is what has shaped us into what we are today. Human technology and ingenuity does not exist despite our tendency toward violence but because of it.

I for one am filled with extreme pride when I look at the works of my human ancestors. We descended from the trees and will soon travel those distant points of light that filled us with wonder so long ago. Billions of us have died in that effort, your comment betrays their noble contribution.

Elephants are great. We should endeavor to protect them and show them kindness, but the reason we are able to do so is because we are vastly superior to them.

[scalio]

You're right, we've come this far because intelligence is a competitive advantage. However, we do not fully understand the mechanisms of evolution, and I thus find it hard to categorically deny all other beings' ability to think extensively. Their intelligence probably wouldn't be competitive ("how do I get there before that guy"), but maybe there are other kinds of intelligence. Kindness and compassion is not a human invention, and may well be an evolutionary advantage under some circumstances (grouping is needed for survival, and the group survives better by sharing), leading to intelligence based on kindness and not focusing on any single individual.