Genes, Brains, and Human Potential The Science and Ideology of Intelligence

242 POTENTIAL BETWEEN BRAINS

Having said that, we should not lose sight of the fact that individual
ants are developmentally, cognitively, and behaviorally limited. Consid-
erable adaptability of the whole is achieved from limited adaptability of
individual members. Th ey interact on the basis of a limited range of indi-
vidual be hav ior patterns. Stephen Guerin and Daniel Kunkle refer to such
systems as “thin” agents, with limited depth of cognition. Th ey contrast
with “fat” agents capable of internal reasoning in more complex social
systems, to which we will turn below.
Accordingly, my task is to get you to imagine such co ali tions where
the “units” of cooperation have, for other evolutionary reasons, already
developed advanced cognitive systems: that is, they have much greater
individual adaptability. It will be like comparing an orchestra of three-
hole hornpipes (each with limited repertoire) with one of eight- hole horn-
pipes. Far more in ter est ing things can happen.
Before that, though, it is instructive to look at some other forms of
social living in species more evolved than social insects.

SHOALS, FLOCKS, AND HERDS

Th e Cambrian explosion of about 550 million years ago produced an

enormous variety of species. Th at, in turn, produced more intense

predator- prey interactions and thus improved hunting and defensive

systems. Rapidly moving among objects, some of which are themselves

moving, creates high levels of unpredictability: sensory inputs are largely

fl eeting, fragmentary, and form novel combinations. Among these chang-

ing environments, the bony fi shes emerged with great maneuverability

and speed, new sensory and motor systems, and bigger brains and more

advanced cognitive systems to regulate them. Some of them also evolved

to form social groups, or shoals and schools.

About a quarter of fi sh species form shoals. Th e advantages seem fairly

obvious: enhanced foraging success, better chances of fi nding a mate, and

even some hydrodynamic effi ciency. But the overwhelming advantage is

defense against predators. Th is happens through better predator detec-

tion and by diluting the chance of individual capture.

Fish social groups do not have the extensive and close- knit organ-

ization of colonies of social insects. Th is is prob ably because their need is

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