Do you think humanity could have co-evolved and somehow managed to have co-existed with another equally ....?

Question

.... intelligent and technologically capable animal species?

In other words, could evolution, on any given planet, have resulted in the simultaneous coexistence of two (or more) completely different, but equally self-conscious, intelligent and technologically capable species, living side by side?

... Or would they have tried to kill each other off - the case of the Neanderthals, for instance, is as close an analogy as I can think of in the human case. Although the Neanderthal was NOT a “completely” different species and chances are that they have even been partly absorbed into the modern human race to some extent. … So in answering the question PLEASE do NOT concentrate on the Neanderthals’ case, I merely used that as an analogy. Thanks for your comments.

Answer 1

I don't know, we'd have to experience it to be sure...

Answer 2

The odds of two unrelated intelligent species evolving simultaneously on the same planet are probably low, but there's no reason it couldn't happen. There are probably a lot of Earthlike planets in the universe, odds are it's happened somewhere.

If they were related species it's even easier. All that has to happen is for one to not compete the other to extinction.

Edit: GENE, it saddens me to see how many people subscribe to this gross misconception of how science works. Scientists are trained to always be aware of the fact that their conclusions could be wrong, and to be skeptical about any claims. Unlike religion, science is not afraid to admit it may be in error.

Answer 3

I hate to be a pessimist, but the dominant species on this planet now are homosapiens and we don't co-exist with each other peacefully. Everyday we are in some endeavor to annihilate, enslave, or dominate each other in every possible way. We don't respect each other and we are of the same species, because of superficial differences in our appearances.

IMAGINE if there was a completely different species "co-habitating" with us????!!!!! Judging from our own human history, either the species would be absorbed into our own if they were similar enough. Or we would completely enslave, ostracize or annihilate them. We are an aggressive, war-ing species.

Apparently, at one time there was reason (when we were actually vying for domination (survival) over other species that were evolving along side us). But despite all our obvious victory and advancements, we have not evolved beyond that primitive instinct to kill or be killed, dominate or be dominated, though we are the only surviving sentient species left. Scary....

Answer 4

I agree completely, the fact tht there are three main skull 'types' today support this. These three skull types differ from the others in small ways, but the fact that they are diffrent show that they evolved at a diffrent rate

(european, african, asian)

Answer 5

I think it's possible if the 2 species involved occupied different ecological niches, such as humans and mermaids (I don't personally believe in mermaids, but that's an example.)

Answer 6

This other "technologically capable" species would have to be much friendlier than we are, based on our history with animals. Then, we would attempt to enslave, own, or annihilate them depending on our mood.

We get along with various domesticated pets, and intelligent creatures like monkeys and dolphins, only because they do not turn the tables on us. If they threaten us or get out of line, we kill them. We do the same with any animal, even when we need them for food, clothing, transportation, or entertainment.

Whales have well developed brains, but their immense size and resemblance to mythical sea monsters, not to mention the value of their flesh, caused us to hunt them nearly to extinction. Imagine what would have happened if they had possessed the technology to really threaten us.

Go back a century or two - heck, even half a century - and you would find an attitude toward blacks that led to slavery and later, to exclusion, based on the opinion they were not as highly evolved as the dominant culture. Considering the scientists, writers, and statesmen among the black race at the time, it's easy to see how a representative sample of modern humanity would treat another race (let alone a species) with the same innate capabilities.

When it comes to a completely different branch on the evolutionary tree, I think that some day more than one intelligent and capable animal would be able to coexist peacefully on this planet, but not if humanity (as we know it) is one of them.

Answer 7

Anything is possible.

But I doubt that we could share this planet with another species; after all can't even co exist with each other without infighting, killing, having wars, being racist; basically being selfish. We are very quick to have an us and them attitude. I would expect these attitudes would be greatly amplified if we were competing with a totally different species for resources.

Answer 8

YES INDEED THAT IS POSSIBLE.  I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HUNCH THAT THERE WERE MANY UPS AND DOWNS TO OUR EVOLUTION.  SOME SPECIES MAY HAVE EVOLVED TO A HIGH DEGREE AND FAILED FOR SOME REASON - THOSE COULD HAVE EXISTED AT THE SAME TIME OTHER SPECIES WERE COMING INTO THEIR OWN.    I AM ALWAYS AMAZED BY CONVENTIONAL SCIENCE - THE TENDENCY TO BE SO RIGID IN THEIR VIEWS.  SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE EVEN EXPERIENCED NERVOUS BREAKDOWNS WHEN FORCED TO ABANDON OLD IDEAS.  CHILL OUT GUYS, MAKE A BIT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING.

Answer 9

Well it was recently discover that there was such a big difference between us and the Neanderthals that we could no have absorb them into our RACE, we & the Neanderthals were actually SEPARATE races as CATS & DOGS some people think that actually our ancestor hunted down the neaderthals and that we had a big role in there EXTINCTION, so what are the chances that we wouldnt try to figth and take over another people's planet the first thing we would do is analyze for any sings of inferiority & if we found them we would more than likely enslave them, we had done it before, and than we would try to take over their land and resources, we had also done that and it was not a different race it was people like our selves so I would guess that we would not live in peace since we would break into 2 real races HUMANS and MARTIANS or whatever.

Answer 10

I think that is possible because I'm sure that there could be two more easygoing species that could have coexisted.  Even among humans there are less warring tribes that had been around and Bonobos are less warring than chimps.  I think they would've definitely needed to be matriarchal though.

Answer 11

I am of the opinion that humans will expand to fill the environment and overcrowding will force warfare to happen.  When people get hungry, the young men will go out and try to take food from the competitors.  You will end up with a system where large bands of young warriors will attempt to gain territory by force.  When the population reaches the holding capacity of the environment, you will be forced to fight to keep it.  Humans will gang up, in high numbers, to overwhelm any competitor.  They would have to have a way to avoid us when we get desperate and not compete with us for food.  It would also help if they weren't made of meat.