Measures of Wealth, Beauty, Quality & Morality

In *Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?*, Frans de Waal delves into the intelligence of various animal species, highlighting their problem-solving abilities, tool use, and social intelligence. He argues that the difference between human and animal cognition is one of degree, not kind, and emphasizes the need to appreciate animal intelligence on its own terms.

In *The Blind Watchmaker*, Richard Dawkins presents a comprehensive explanation of the theory of evolution through natural selection. He argues against the creationist metaphor of the skilled watchmaker by introducing the concept of a 'blind watchmaker,' where natural selection acts without foresight or purpose. Dawkins uses examples such as the evolution of the eye and computer simulations to illustrate how complexity can arise from simple organisms through cumulative selection. The book also addresses common criticisms of evolution and argues against the existence of a divine creator, emphasizing that the Darwinian world-view is the only known theory that could explain the mystery of our existence.