If we rely on society, we might be dumber than we think.
Increasing the range of problems to solve helps us develop the brain. When we specialize in something and do not acquire wider general knowledge, our brain doesn’t need as much power and neurological connections as when we expose ourselves to a greater variety of problems.* As a result, it isn’t as developed. Why? Because general knowledge is outsourced to the community, we specialize in one thing; another person specializes in another. We achieve our goals, but we become less knowledgeable.
There is no risk in being dumb in a successfully developing community if everything goes well. But when society faces a crisis, we need more critical, well-developed minds.
*Joseph Henrich – Humans Defeated Smarter Species With Cultural Evolution