What, anyway, was he to say? That intelligence could surpass and excel the blind force of evolution, with its emphasis on mutation, struggle and death? That conscious cooperation was more efficient than feral competition?

Iain M. Banks
About This Quote

Today's science is showing us that we are not the only intelligent species in the universe. There is a great deal of evidence that we are not alone and that we share this planet with many others. How do we know that we do not share this planet with other intelligent lifeforms? We know this because when we look at our own planet, we can see evidence of millions of years of evolution and millions of years of nature's struggle to survive. Most of our planet has been shaped by forces beyond our control or comprehension. It is unlikely that an alien race would come to the same conclusions about the benefits of cooperation.

Source: The Player Of Games

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