The cognitive bit is the skills to survive with the constraint that we are cognitive, and thus resource requirements are quite high, compared to other species.

The cognitive bit is the skills to survive with the constraint that we are cognitive, and thus resource requirements are quite high, compared to other species. You always needed to be sharp to survive and to create children who do the same. Unless you are a species that doesn't need to create a highly cognitive offspring, for example insects, for whom what you say probably truly applies.