[Indemaijinj]

Why should the human powers of thought and reasoning be so utterly and completely removed from anything else spawned by nature?

Humans ARE quite different from most other animals, but why can't this difference just be the result of evolved specialisation?

It is quite clear that we are a very social species. We are also belong to a very social type of animals (apes). Communication is important for flock animals and the ability to communicate more advanced matters to the rest of the flock is a really good ability for the survival and proliferation of the species.

We have developed a quite powerful ability for this, called speech. A system of sounds that can be formed and combined into sentences that can carry an almost (if not actually) infinite array of meanings. This is quite unlike other flock animals that are only able to communicate a limited amount of meanings.

The ability to adapt one's way of thinking and concepts of the world around one is probably a pre-human thing, albeit it is especially pronounced on humans. The ability is vital to any species that wishes to extend it's range of possible habitats. Imagination, memory and toolmaking have all proven to be good attributes for survival.

But why has the human powers of imagining, reasoning and concept-making evolved to be so radical as to include artistic ability and the power of existencial and religious thought?

There are several explanations on this:

1. These modes of thinking is an unharmful (and quite wonderful) by-product of a more important ability (the general ability of advanced thought). It is a common mistake to view evolution as only producing beneficial traits. A lot of inconsequential traits can also appear. A trait, that neither promotes, nor hinders the survival and proliferation of a species would not necessarily have to be lost in evolution.

2. The ability has proven beneficial for survival and proliferation. This is a more likely scenario since why should it else become so common?
It is another common mistake only to look on things such as the ability to gather food and protect oneself and one's kind from calamities. The ability to acquire mates and, in the case of flock animals, the goodwill of the flock.
One sweet little theory states that boredom was an issue for the early human. During days or nights where there was little to do besides sitting inside the shelter or cave humans could sometimes become quite bored. Some humans invented storytelling along the way. Those who could alleviate long winters or droughts with imaginative stories or inspirational art would rise in popularity. This would mean more mates and a bigger share of the food. Also in such dire times the human capacity to understand advanced concepts and be able to think back and forth in time could produce great anxiety. People who were able to ease this (often detrimental) state in themselves or others would have a greater chance of survival and a greater status in the group. This could be the origin of the first priests (the rulers of ancient human cultures often also had clerical functions).

I, personally like the second explanation better. One might also consider that the acknowledgement of the divine and the understanding of the religious aspect of the world might have a beneficial effect on survival.