Final answer:
Tool making requires a larger brain, as illustrated in the study of Homo habilis compared to Paranthropus. Encephalization, or the growth of brain size, is associated with increased cognitive abilities and tool use, though cognitive abilities can also depend on brain organization rather than size alone, as evidenced by the diverse abilities of hominins like the Neanderthals and H. floresiensis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tool making takes a larger brain, and Paranthropus did not have a cranial capacity indicative of the cognitive abilities necessary for sophisticated tool-making. This assertion is grounded in the evolutionary history of hominins, where we see encephalization, or the progressive increase in brain size, correlating with a leap in cognitive complexity, tool use, and language development. Studies of Homo habilis, an early tool-using hominin with a brain volume of around 800 cubic centimeters, highlight the relationship between brain size and tool-making capacity. Despite being small in stature, their relatively large brain enabled the use of tools and consumption of a varied diet, showing a significant advancement over Paranthropus.
Using tools and constructing tools are two different cognitive challenges. Hominins like Homo habilis and Homo erectus demonstrated advanced cognitive skills such as planning and carrying out complex tasks, which are evidenced in their systematic tool-making processes. However, there have been exceptions in human evolution, such as H. floresiensis, whose small brain size did not prevent them from making tools and using fire, suggesting that brain organization can be as crucial as brain size when it comes to cognitive capabilities.
It's also important to consider that brain size alone is not the sole determinant of intelligence. The Neanderthal brain, which was larger than that of modern humans, had different areas emphasized, resulting in varied skillsets and cognitive abilities. Further, the brain of H. floresiensis, while small, contained parts that are associated with high cognitive abilities in modern humans, indicating that the correlation between brain size and intelligence is complex and not strictly proportionate.