3 ms·
> The awake state only appeared as a survival strategy, to better adapt to the natural environment. Well. Given that "awake" creatures react to stimuli, that m
by outworlder 5y ago
> The awake state only appeared as a survival strategy, to better adapt to the natural environment.
Well. Given that "awake" creatures react to stimuli, that might not be too far off the truth. If we could passively survive and not have to forage or hunt for food, what's the point of 'waking up'?
Sleeping is advantageous (less energy use). Efficiency is usually selected for, unless there's some other kind of environmental pressure.
Maybe that's why we haven't found other civilizations. They are all 'sleeping'. Maybe consciousness is also unnecessary (on that front, I love https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm https://rifters.com/real/Blindsight.htm)
- ASalazarMX 5y agoWhile Peter Watts' writing feels like he enjoys being intentionally abstruse, his books are very thought provoking. I still get reminded about the concepts in Blindsight from time to time, years after I read it.
- moonchild 5y agoOnly awake beings can reproduce.
- dormento 5y agoThat we know of, yes. In the earth animal kingdom, yes. But what if there was some king of being that "shed" their spawn in a totally passive manner, perhaps using all that surplus energy from not needing to be awake most of the time?