Chapter 7 Intelligence

One unavoidable issue when regarding earth as life form is the presense of intelligence. This is, in fact, a very difficult issue.

First of all, what is intelligence? Very few would regard worms as having intelligence. But when it comes to dogs, people regard them as having intelligence. Of all the life forms on earth, human beings are regarded as having the highest intelligence. If earth would have one, how high would it be?

The answer is ÒAn intelligence in the same level as human beings would at least exist on earthÓ. Why? It is because human beings claim to be the most intelligent creatures on earth. (Any objections?)

Higher forms of life are the aggregate of numerous organisms and never exist on its own. Even amoeba, the simplest unicellular protozoan, is thought to be a composition of multiple organisms.

Eucaryote has an organ called mitochondria, which creates energy. It is thought that mitochondria were unicellular organisms existing independently that was absorbed into the cell and thus creating a symbiosis by contributing to it as the producer of energy.

In other words, most life forms, including unicellular organisms, are assembles of multiple organisms that never exist on their own.

Life forms on earth donÕt simply exist, but are in symbiotic relationship with the earth, creating the living Earth as a whole. On the other way around, the existence of life forms on land is essential for the earth to exist as a vital life form.

The fact that human beings are in dependable and also in symbiotic relationship with the earth suggests that the earthÕs intelligence could not be lower than that of the human beings.

Translated by Rie Ishida