Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!think!ames!sdcsvax!sdcc6!calmasd!jnp
From: jnp@calmasd.GE.COM (John Pantone)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Why are Humans as Smart as They Are?
Message-ID: <2346@calmasd.GE.COM>
Date: Fri, 21-Aug-87 17:16:12 EDT
Article-I.D.: calmasd.2346
Posted: Fri Aug 21 17:16:12 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 23-Aug-87 12:07:13 EDT
References: <1041@ttidca.TTI.COM> <2851@phri.UUCP> <2172@xanth.UUCP>
Organization: G.E.- Calma R&D, San Diego, CA
Lines: 30
Keywords: high foreheads

In article <2172@xanth.UUCP>, kent@xanth.UUCP (Kent Paul Dolan) writes:

> We continued the discussion for clarification, and she finally gave me
> to understand that her (_the_ ?) Chinese ideal of beauty includes a
> wide, clear forehead.
> 
> The question that came instantly to my mind (but not lips, I'm
> _trying_ to make a good impression on this rather desireable young
> woman) was:  wouldn't self selection for high, clear foreheads, i.e.,
> probably enlarged cranial capacity, be an excellent way to bias toward
> the reproduction of the more intelligent members of a race/species?

Only one problem, Kent.  High, clear foreheads don't indicate (necessarily)
a large cranial capacity (could have a small hind-head) nor does large
cranial capacity indicate high intelligence.  Some species of Dolphin,
almost all whales and elephants have brains physically larger than ours -
yet it is not true that they have greater intelligence.

The "classic" anecdote on this subject is the one regarding the largest
brain (human) recorded - which belonged to a mentally deficient man.

I would suspect that fashions, which concern themselves with superficial
configurations, would only very rarely affect substantive things like basic
intellegence, etc.

More ideas netters?
-- 
These opinions are solely mine and in no way reflect those of my employer.  
John M. Pantone @ GE/Calma R&D, Data Management Group, San Diego
...{ucbvax|decvax}!sdcsvax!calmasd!jnp          jnp@calmasd.GE.COM