On your point 2
I completely agree .. compared to our NEAR relatives. And compared to our western relatives in the 1800s western society.. we generally speaking face a lot LESS physical demands ..
I mean we dont build our own homes, slaughter our meat, grow and harvest our nutritional needs, make our own furniture, bail in our water, preserve, clean everything by hand etc .. generally speaking ... of course
As some of us still do some of those things
but likely not all
But people didnt live as long as they do now .. and infant mortality was higher .. and they died of thinks like rickets.. not having enough vit C in their diets.
On your point 1 .. IF humans were as active as their counterparts in the past, even the more recent past .. theyd be thinner, run farther, have greater stamina and physical resilience.. be in better health and no doubt live longer ... all things being equal of course.
Your 1a is very fascinating.. I agree that IF we remain lazy or we werent as lazy we would still be better off today .. physically.. than we were a few generations ago.
But my point is that human physical weakness is not a trade off or consequence for greater intellectual capabilities...
Why?
First, those who exercise the maximum capability of their intellectual potential still represents only a small percentage of the human race.
so theres that
Second, there is no direct trade off.
You can be intellectual and physically active ..
no?
Ok so living in a modern western society.. where so much is automated, ie machines that wash our clothes, machines we jump in that transport us places, machines that harvest our crops, build our machines lol
So life is way easier and a lot less physical demanding .. true .. for most western developed societies. But our diets are fucked up, our attitudes are lazy .. sure some do the gym thing, not allergic to the notion of walking .. in some communities.. sports are encouraged. Outer heightened intellects make us more aware and informed about our health and wellbeing.. both physical and mental.
So theres that
We dont really HAVE to be weaker ..
I agree about the impact of increased stress in our lives and the absolute toxic impact that has on humans.
But I think there were always stressors .. I mean we no longer attend public hanging, drawing and quaterings
burning at the stakes, public trials that involved torture etc. Or not knowing where the next dollar or crust of bread is coming from?
Humans are generally better off today than theyve ever been ... and they can be physically fit and healthy as they are intellectually capable .. or live in a highly technologically advanced environment and still be healthy physically .. and strong.
The two are not mutually exclusive.
If they become so .. with the exception of those without the capability.. its only because those who inherit our modern world with all its convenience choose inertia over activity. And they lose .. from a physical perspective and from a health perspective. Its never too late to turn that around .. unless it is.