Are humans more clever than animals – or even an individual cell?

Michel de Montaigne’s wisdom intrigues me.  He is constantly critical of man’s assumption that he is superior to animals because he thinks better than they do.

With the technology available to modern science we discover that every living organism, no matter how tiny, thinks and makes choices. And they make their choices in the best interest of the bigger good.

In his latest book “The Book of Secrets” Deepak Chopra has this to say about human cells:-

1. Every cell agrees to work for the welfare of the whole.  Its individual welfare comes second. Selfishness is not an option.
2. A cell keeps in touch with every other cell. Withdrawing or refusing to communicate is not an option.
3. Cells adapt from moment to moment. Getting caught up in rigid choices is not an option.
4. Cells recognise each other as equally important. Going it alone is not an option.
5. Although every cell has unique functions, each is constantly creative. Clinging to old behaviour is not an option.
6. Cells obey the universal cycle of rest and activity. Being excessively active or aggressive is not an option.
7. Cells function with the smallest possible expenditure of energy. Typically a cell stores only 3 seconds of food and oxygen. Excessive consumption is not an option.
8. Due to their common genetic inheritance, being an outcast is not an option.
9. The primary activity of a cell is giving.  Hoarding is not an option.
10. Cells reproduce in order to pass on their knowledge, experience and talents, withholding nothing from their offspring. This is a kind of practical immortality, submitting to death on the physical plane but defeating it on the non-physical. The generation gap is not an option.

If only we humans were half as intelligent as any one of our 10 trillion cells.