Anthropology Discussion post

 

As you saw in the

Clever Monkeys video

, primates are smart. Scientists have made great attempts to measure intelligence in primates, humans, and extinct primate and hominid populations.

Let’s compare and contrast these two groups: primates/humans with extinct primate/hominid populations. How do scientists measure intelligence in these two groups? How is brain size used to measure intelligence? Should we use brain size to measure intelligence in these two groups or is there a better way to measure intelligence? Provide an example to illustrate your ideas. 

 Required reading

Explorations Ch 5

 &

Explorations Ch 6

 &

Appendix B

 & lecture notes,

Smithsonian NMHN (2019)

,

Contemporary Primates