What prevents other animals/species from evolving and developing cognitively the same way humans have?
In: 145
Absolutely nothing, but time and random mutations. As I write this, there may be a whale, elephant, ape, or similar creature with a large neocortex which has one of the (possibly singular, possibly numerous) mutations which result in proteins which (so far inexplicably) result in true consciousness, resulting in it being compelled to find and communicate with other truly conscious creatures, and starting a cascade of adaptive behavior accentuating and enlarging their neocortex in ways similar to ours through countless generations of their new species. Perhaps others in its local population also have true consciousness, and they will together begin the millenia-long process of building a true civilization of their own. Possibly it or they will recognize the consciousness of, and establish communications (in whatever way they are able) with, one or more of the billions of creatures, all humans, which already have both true consciousness and true civilization.
So far, there is no evidence of this, but the only thing preventing it is time and random mutations.
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