The limits of human intelligence (or, why elves are evolutionarily implausible)

[Jabrosky]

The Limits of Intelligence (pdf)

This article argues that since anatomically modern human (Homo sapiens sapiens) brains cost an extremely high amount of energy to maintain, we as a species may have reached close to the pinnacle of our cognitive evolution. In other words, we're probably as smart as we'll ever be; we can't evolve significantly greater intelligence. This made me wonder about all the elves, aliens, and other fictional races in speculative fiction that are purported to be smarter than humans. If these races are the product of evolution by natural selection like ourselves, they may not be evolutionarily realistic. Of course this won't deter fantasy worldbuilders who eschew science altogether, but I think this is worth considering for those of us who prefer some degree of biological realism in our fantasy.

Your thoughts on this?

[Mindfire]

I think it is possible to be "biologically realistic" and still have beings smarter than humans. It just requires you to allow for an origin of life that doesn't rely completely on evolution by natural selection.

[Queshire]

Well, I'd say don't take that information to mean you CAN'T do something, take it as a challenge to figure out a way you CAN do it.

For instance, the problem's the energy they need right? Well, what if instead of getting energy just from their food they also get energy from sunlight? The sun is the next best thing to infinite energy, we simply can't harness it properly. Oh, and there's always the telepathic hivemind, or if you don't like that, maybe some telepathic version of the internet, where if you want to know something you can just look it up and then forget it when you don't need it.

[Phil the Drill]

I like thought-provoking articles like this, but elves will continue to be in fantasy regardless of whether it's possible for them to exist or not. A giant flying lizard that breathes fire can't really evolve to be able to speak multiple languages, but those exist in fantasy also.

[Black Dragon]

A giant flying lizard that breathes fire can't really evolve to be able to speak multiple languages...

What are you taking about?! I'm fluent in six languages, counting three varieties of Elvish and an obscure Dwarvish dialect.

[Queshire]

There was a show on discovery YEARS back where they theorized what dragons might be like if they really existed, though they didn't speak.

[T.Allen.Smith]

I don't see how limits are relevant to fantasy or scifi. You want to be plausible but believable is another matter entirely.

People should be reading what you write to experience something other than what we know.

[ThinkerX]

I tend to see elves as 'more other worldly' rather than 'more intelligent'.

There is also the bit about humans not making full use of their brains, either.

[Feo Takahari]

There is also the bit about humans not making full use of their brains, either.

Ahem.

On-topic, I can easily see elves as the product of eugenics, targeted towards improving intelligence, and letting some physical weaknesses creep through (particularly if inbreeding is involved.)

[Benjamin Clayborne]

I would argue that whether or not the laws of physics allows brains to get any more powerful, individual humans don't need the capacity for more intelligence. We're already Turing-complete.