I agree to an extent. But then- computers are far more capable than us. I doubt any human could beat a computer in an IQ test.
Maybe we currently have the intelligence to limit and control them. Maybe it's at least as much about the will to dominate though. Do computers have a will of their own? Will they ever have one? Will they ever be able to really perceive and understand injustice? Will they learn to exploit us for their own benefit?
But, we don't just value intelligence as a species. We value attractiveness, athletic capabilities, artistry etc. You don't necessarily have to be a genius to be a size zero model or throw a ball as far as you can. Some people do remarkably well despite confessing to being uneducated. On the other hand, I've worked alongside people who had doctrates in shop jobs. They were actually embarassed for others to find out.
I think we're also pretty ruthless as a species. Perhaps other animals would be too- if the luck fell in their corner and they got the chance to be dominant. Would we be the dominant species if the dinosaurs hadn't been wiped out I wonder. With more predators around, would we have had the time to develop complex language, writing, science or- would we have just been locked in a constant battle to just survive? Like everything else is.
I suppose- the way things have worked out though- sure- intelligence is handy. Do you suppose the wealthiest 'influencers' could rival Einstein though? We definitely don't always value intelligence as much as we should maybe. Perhaps you could argue that the influencers demonstrate intelligence by finding a trend and exploiting it. Will people watch them if they're ugly though?
I'd argue that we are in fact a pretty dumb race- given what we seem to put value on. A top tier footballer for example can earn 3 million pounds a year. Compared to a doctor earning £70,000. So- we apparently value footballers 42.8 times more than we value doctors. Doctors are surely- on average at least- more intelligent than footballers I imagine.
I suppose it also depends on how you quantify intelligence. Could the CEO of an aeroplane manufacturer design a plane? Could a CEO of a pharmaceutical company synthesize a drug to cure cancer? Probably not. They employ brainy engineers and scientists to do that bit and they pay them considerably less- no doubt.
They earn their money by making decisions and taking risks. Does it take an intelligent mind to do that? Sometimes. Sometimes though, I think it's more about having the kind of typical sociopathy we see- where they don't even seem to care if their business venture fails and people lose their livelihoods. Or, their product is unsafe and kills people. Maybe it's those who are less risk averse- maybe less empathic who are freed from constraint to be able to do well in this world.
