Is it possible for creatures with intelligence more advanced than humans to evolve naturally in the universe?

And since the universe is so enormously big, it would be strange if we were the most intelligent creatures. Though, we will probably never find out.

Possibly, for us, it was a combination of different things after it reached a certain level:

Human intelligence is limited by how the brain works, and how big the head on a baby can be.

I’m wondering about attachment and transference with the therapist and the idea of escape and fantasy? How much do you think your strong feelings, constant thoughts, desires to be with your therapist are a way to escape from your present life? I wonder if the transference serves another purpose than to show us our wounds and/or past experiences, but is a present coping strategy for managing what we don’t want to face (even if unconsciously) in the present—-current relationships, life circumstances, etc. Can anyone relate to this concept of escape in relation to their therapy relationship? How does this play out for you?

They may also not have the same limitations for the size of a birth canal. If they are similar to marsupials, the baby would be born very small and then develop in the pouch, without head restrictions of the birth canal.

Right here on Earth, birds have at least twice as dense brains as humans. That means that they cram at least twice the computing capacity in the same space as primates. If we had bird brains we might have been much more intelligent.

So let's say that the aliens have fewer restrictions on brain size, and have more efficient brain wetware, and are subject to sexual selection for intelligence, then they will likely be much more intelligent than us.

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Aliens may have more efficient brains than humans, like birds, or even more efficient than any animal on Earth.

Then we can wonder about the evolutionary selection pressure for intelligence.

Sexual selection. Intelligence is sexy. If you could tell a better story, make a better plan, make a better tool or weapon, you would be popular and get laid.

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Social groups, and theory of mind. You needed to keep tabs on everyone in the group and understand their drives. Being able to negotiate. It takes intelligence to succeed with this.