PREDATOR PREY MODELS AND CONTACT CONSIDERATIONS by: Douglas Raybeck (draybeck@hamilton.edu) Anthropology Department Hamilton College Clinton, NY 13323 Paper presented at the 11th Annual CONTACT Conference Palo Alto, California March 18th - 20th, 1994. INTRODUCTION Within the scientific community, as well as in the popular press and among science fiction writers, there has long been a concern with Extraterrestrials and the possibility of communication with them. This concern has led to such projects as the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) (Morrison, et al. 1977) that continues to be a focus of attention for many scientists even though currently facing reduced funding (Harrison and Elms 1990, Raybeck 1992). As recently as this year, Harrison published an intriguing paper concerning Extraterrestrial intelligence in one of psychology's major journals (Harrison 1993). At the same time, scientists have theorized and speculated about the nature of Extraterrestrial intelligence and the problems involved in inter-sapient communication (Sagan 1973). The general consensus has been that the universe is very likely to host other intelligent beings, that some of these will be more technologically advanced than current humanity, and that some will be trying to locate other intelligences. In the science fiction community, images of Extraterrestrials have been variegated in form, in intelligence and in intentions. They range form the beneficent aliens of Julian May, who only wish to elevate the lot of humanity and facilitate our participation in an intergalactic "milieu," (1987a, 1987b) to the malevolent Extraterrestrials of Greg Bear, who travel about the universe locating intelligent life forms and destroying them because they may be potential future competitors (1987). Generally, however, images of aliens in the popular press and among the scientific community are positive. It is widely believed that if a sapient form can achieve the degree of civilization necessary to support inter-stellar communication, it is unlikely to be characterized by hostile intentions. In this paper, I wish to examine this assumption. As an anthropologist, I am aware that there are some markedly different paths to the evolution of intelligence. These differences can provide us with models that can suggest some of the variety we may anticipate among Extraterrestrials. I am concerned about the possibility that a technologically oriented intelligence may as likely be developed by a predatory species as by a non-predatory one. I am particularly concerned with the kinds of stimuli that promote the development of intelligence, and with what sorts of ethical notions might be associated with these varying modes of evolving intelligence. This exercise in modeling should have consequences for how we approach the possibility of Extraterrestrial communication. THE CASE FOR INTELLIGENCE Among the range of definitions for intelligence, one that is widely accepted is the ability to learn new response patterns (Jerison 1973). Generally, intelligence confers upon an organism greater adaptability and flexibility in dealing with environmental challenges. However, many complex adaptations to the environment do not require the classical concept of intelligence. Scientists have long known that insects are capable of complex adaptations to their environments in a fashion that relies upon genetic programming rather than on learning (Wilson 1980). Indeed, Schull has recently argued that even the adaptive characteristics of plant and animal species are related to information-processing and that it would be fruitful to view such species as intelligent (1990). Overwhelmingly, however, the scientific community is persuaded that a greater capacity for learning is a superior adaptation to suggested alternatives. In the evolution of intelligence on earth there has been a consistent trend from relatively closed instinctive patterns toward "open" learning. (Hinde 1974, Sluckin 1965). Jastrow has noted the evolution of intelligence from lower organisms to humanity and to computers (1981). He and others believe that, if one has competing species, the evolution of intelligence is inevitable because the the advantages it confers upon the possessor (Itzkoff 1983, Sagan 1977). However, the questions concerning the rate at which intelligence is developed and the nature of the species that are most likely to possess it are more complex. Evolutionary theorists and developmental biologists have long been aware that the development of intelligence involves a series of interactions between organisms and their environment (Laughlin and Brady 1978, Laughlin and D'Aquili 1974, Manosevetz, et al. 1969, Mazur and Robertson 1972, Tunnell 1973). The environment must contain conditions for which intelligence is an adaptive trait. Beings with greater intelligence then reproduce in increasing numbers, filling their eco-niches and driving out less intelligent competitors. It is important to note, however, that the entities disadvantaged in this scenario are the ones that either compete directly with our intelligent others or are directly exploited by them. Complex environments select for intelligence by creating conditions where more intelligent competitors have an advantage in exploiting limited resources (Evans and Schmidt 1990, Robinson 1990). Animals that proceed by instinct have a limited set of behavioral repertoires with which to respond to changing conditions. They are limited not only by their physiology, but by their ability to perceive the existence of new demands and new resource possibilities. Their coping equipment is genetically based and suited to the parameters of the environment in which the organism evolved. Should that environment change, the organism may likely prove unable to adapt to the new circumstances and be seriously disadvantaged in its competition with other species. (Daly and Wilson 1978, Dawkins 1976, Smith 1984). Generally, increasing intelligence confers upon an organism a better opportunity to model the environment, both natural and behavioral, so that food getting, mating and general survival strategies can be maximized. Intelligence is selected for because it benefits the possessor, not because it is helpful to others. Costs and Advantages of Intelligence An increase in intelligence has meant a corresponding rise in brain size. As Jerison has noted, "The mass of neural tissue controlling a particular function is appropriate to the amount of information processing involved in performing the function" (1973: 8). This has been true in organic evolution, and in the evolution of artificial intelligence as well (Gardner 1985, Goldstein and Papert 1977, Jastrow 1981, Llinas 1990, Nelson and Bower 1990, Schank and Childers 1984). It seems likely that, however information is processed, it would also be true for Extraterrestrials. Intelligence is not without certain physical costs. Particularly in the case of high mammals, intelligence has been found to be expensive in terms of the body's resources. Brain tissue requires large supplies of glucose and oxygen (Milton 1988), but these are justified by the advantages that intelligence confers. Indeed, the costs of intelligence are evidence of its importance and success as an environmental adaptation. >>> Continued to next message --- þ OLX 2.1 TD þ UFONet - UK's ONLY Dedicated UFO Network - 0181-769-1740 þ wcGATE 4.1 ÷ UFONet þ Stairway BBS, Streatham, London þ 0181 769 1740 --- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 * Origin: BBSNet Echomail Network. FTS<>QWK gate at Ooh! (405:100/1.0)