[ewoodrich]

Trisolarans did evolve under much different selection pressure that requires effective mass coordination to dehydrate when deemed necessary for civilization's survival. That would probably select for rigid adherence to rules of communication vs critically evaluating every interaction. Or else you'd get a lot of "But am I being tricked into dehydrating to steal my belongings and take my job at the sophon factory? No thanks, I'll pass."

[general1465]

But how would progress work like that? If you are essentially an ant colony adhering to rules, how do you want to invent anything at all? The moment when you start being different through innovation, you are not following the rigid rule system and other members of your species will kill you.