[theodorejb]

> Human cognition was basically bruteforced by evolution

This is an assumption, not a fact. Perhaps human cognition was created by God, and our minds have an essential spiritual component which cannot be reproduced by a purely physical machine.

[j2kun]

Even if you don't believe in God, scientific theories of how human cognition came about (and how it works and changes over time) are all largely speculation and good storytelling.

[pennomi]

It’s not an assumption, it’s a viable theory based on overwhelming evidence from fossil records.

What’s NOT supported by evidence is an unknowable, untestable spiritual requirement for cognition.

[j2kun]

What overwhelming evidence do fossil records provide about human cognition?

[mediaman]

We don't need fossil records. We have a clear chain of evolved brain structures in today's living mammals. You'd have to invent some fantastical tale of how God is trying to trick us by putting such clearly connected brain structures in a series of animals that DNA provides clear links for an evolutionary path.

I'm sympathetic to the idea that God started the whole shebang (that is, the universe), because it's rather difficult to disprove, but looking at the biological weight of evidence that brain structures evolved over many different species and arguing that something magical happened with homo sapiens specifically is not an easy argument to make for someone with any faith in reason.

[znort_]

>clear links for an evolutionary path

there are clear links for at least 2 evolutionary paths: bird brain architecture is very different from that of mammals and some are among the smartest species on the planet. they have sophisticated language and social relationships, they can deceive (meaning they can put themselves inside another's mind and act accordingly), they solve problems and they invent and engineer tools for specific purposes and use them to that effect. give them time and these bitches might even become our new overlords (if we're still around, that is).

[pennomi]

And let’s not forget how smart octopuses are! If they lived longer than a couple years, I’d put them in the running too.

[lurk2]

> it’s a viable theory based on overwhelming evidence from fossil records

No one has gathered evidence of cognition from fossil records.

[pennomi]

Sure they have. We see every level of cognition in animals today, and the fossil record proves that they all came from the same evolutionary tree. For every species that can claim cognition (there’s lots of them), you can trace it back to predecessors which were increasingly simple.

Obviously cognition isn’t a binary thing, it’s a huge gradient, and the tree of life shows that gradient in full.

[soiltype]

It is completely unreasonable to assume our intelligence was not evolved, even if we acknowledge that an untestable magical process could be responsible. If the latter is true, it's not something we could ever actually know.

[lurk2]

> If the latter is true, it's not something we could ever actually know.

That doesn’t follow.

[soiltype]

It follows by definition. If the magic, spirit, or god were testable, it becomes a part of scientific theory.

[myrmidon]

I'm sticking to materialism, because historically all its predictions turned out to be correct (cognition happens in the brain, thought manifests physically in neural activity, affecting our physical brain affects our thinking).

The counter-hypothesis (we think because some kind of magic happens) has absolutely nothing to show for; proponents typically struggle to even define the terms they need, much less make falsifiable predictions.

[znort_]

it is an assumption backed by considerable evidence. creationism otoh is an assumption backed by superstition an phantasizing, or could you point to at least some evidence.

besides, spirituality is not a "component", it's a property emergent from brain structure and function, which is basically purely a physical machine.

[IncreasePosts]

In that sense, what isn't an assumption?

[potsandpans]

Maybe there's a small teapot orbiting the earth, with ten thousand angels dancing on the tip of the spout.

[andy99]

I think you’re both saying the same thing