[bohm]

According to the Santiago Theory of Cognition

"Living systems are cognitive systems, and living as a process is a process of cognition. This statement is valid for all organisms, with or without a nervous system." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Theory_of_Cognition

If this were a correct interpretation, even Bacteria could be seen as already incredibly intelligent. Going Zero to One (dead matter -> prokaryotes) is a significantly bigger step than going One to Five (prokaryotes -> humans).

[Retric]

Careful, modern prokaryotes also have billions of years of evolution behind them. The first organism where likely inefficient and would not last in our current hyper competitive ecosystems. Arguably, the first organism where really more just free floating proteins without even a cell wall.

[bohm]

yeah agreed. i considered writing proto-prokaryotes.