Peter Godfrey-Smith, a professor at the University of Sydney, has spent decades studying the mental lives of animals. His recent book “Living on Earth” continues his exploration of consciousness, sentience, and intelligence in non-human organisms. The trilogy includes “Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness” and “Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind”.
Godfrey-Smith argues that minds are not just passive recipients of natural selection but also active causes that shape evolution. He suggests that animals make choices, often in complex social groups, and this process is essential to their development of consciousness.
To illustrate his points, Godfrey-Smith provides examples such as the creation of oxygen-rich atmosphere by cyanobacteria and the impact of land plants on rivers and landscapes. These organisms demonstrate how life shapes the environment, leading to a more dynamic relationship between living beings and their surroundings.
The philosopher emphasizes that choice is an integral part of evolution, from simple bacteria to complex social behaviors in animals. He suggests that this process becomes more refined over time, leading to the development of conscious decision-making.
Godfrey-Smith also explores the origins of language, proposing that it emerged from a fundamental rewiring of the brain. According to him, writing is a relatively late development, with bookkeeping as its earliest form.
Throughout his work, Godfrey-Smith encourages us to reconsider our understanding of consciousness and intelligence in non-human organisms. By examining the history of life on Earth, he aims to reveal how minds have shaped the evolution of life itself.
Source: https://nautil.us/motion-made-minds-1010268/