Talk to the animals

Have you ever wondered how we know we are the most intelligent species?

I mean, sure, we can measure brains, but exactly what are we measuring them for?  We can only measure them for things we know about.

We can build machines.  We can build houses.  We can control lots of things, or think we can, with our machinery and chicanery.

We can catch other creatures and put them in zoos or force them to do tricks for us, or work for us.

We can do so many things that are important to us and we assume other intelligent life forms would do the same if they could.

But what if those things are not important to other species?  What if they don't need cell phones to communicate across long distances?  What if they don't want to isolate themselves inside homes that destroy the earth's resources to build?  What if they don't need to own things to find fulfillment and meaning in their lives?

We only guess at what they want and need.  Because -- we have not learned their language.  We cannot sit down and have a conversation with them.  We can't even understand their most basic commands like stay, or come.

Just because they are different does not mean they are inferior.