The evolutionary advantages of "being stupid" !

There is an article published in 1973 with an eye catching title "The Evolutionary Advantages of Being Stupid."   So I thought of sharing it with my readers.

In this article Dr. Eugene D. Robin made a detailed discussion on  how larger and more complex brains are associated with greater intelligence, which by evolutionary standards was thought to be related to "superiority." He portrayed how this line of reasoning spots man at the pinnacle of advancement bringing about our inclination toward a human-centric (anthropocentric) perspective on the world. Anthropocentrism likewise prompts deciphering or seeing things as far as our own encounters or worth/conviction frameworks. 

Dr. Robin proceeded to contend that looking at survival of species in hindsight suggests that those which survived have progressed admirably whereas those that vanished have  probably been mediocre.. Rather, he argues it is important to think dynamically. Implying that attributes(traits) advance constantly as does environment. So a trait that may benefit the species at one point in time might not help at all at if conditions change. He cites Asimov who posed the question, "Which is the fitter, a man or an oyster?" If Earth were shrouded in water, unmistakably oyster would be reasonably better than man. 

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Next in reference to intelligence, Dr. Robin also proposed thinking in terms of it being a dynamic trait that could help or handicap a species. Take for example diving mammals. Mammals that are good at diving, have evolved   the capacity to get by with low levels of oxygen . This capacity may likewise shield them from ailments related with low oxygen such as blood loss, heart attacks, strokes, etc. In this model, smaller brains relative to body size are more advantageous favorable as it permits the creature to dive longer (and may be have better wellbeing)). As such , by presumably compromising intelligence, the animals with smaller brains have increased survival. Dr. Robin examined turtles that have the ability to dive for more than 1 week. To make t possible  turtle brains create energy through pathways that don't depend on oxygen and subsequently have reduced activity while diving.  Consequently, by human-centric norms turtles are relatively "stupid" despite the fact that they have survived over 200 million years.

Another argument Dr. Robin presents is that  dinosaurs were incredible at hunting since they were large. Simultaneously, their huge size implied they expected to eat a great deal and in this manner were in danger of running out of resources. Compare this to humans, who are more intelligent and thus able to manipulate the environment to produce adequate food (and different resources). What impact have these environmental manipulations had? Or consider the  cutting edge ascent of so-called "superbugs" from the overuse of antibiotics. 

Consequently I'm compelled to pose the question " Is human intelligence thus a lethal trait?"

Source:  

Eugene D. Robin. The evolutionary advantages of being stupid. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine.