[pengstrom]

I'm more optimistic but cynical. Everybody has the capacity, but can't be bothered for your sake specifically. A highly intelligent person can casually entertain several theoretical notions. A lesser can too, but it requires more effort. Effort that might be better spent elsewhere, or effort that makes social interaction awkward.

[aswegs8]

Higher consciousness does not imply cooperation, even though we idealize it to do so. Cooperation is another dimension - it is easy to imagine a being that has a higher form of consciousness but is not interested in cooperation or does not engage in it unless it can take advantage of others.