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Published on: August 18, 2023
Evolution, time, and the observer
Heather Browning1, Walter Veit2,3
1Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UKdrheatherbrowning@gmail.com.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|June 24, 2026
Summary
Consciousness may have evolved before animals moved to land, challenging the "reality monitoring" theory. Aquatic life
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Comparative psychology
Background:
- Fleming and Michel proposed conscious vision evolved during the water-to-land transition.
- Their theory centers on
- reality monitoring
- as a key evolutionary advantage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the Fleming and Michel hypothesis on the evolution of consciousness.
- To explore alternative evolutionary origins of consciousness rooted in aquatic sensory systems.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of evolutionary arguments.
- Examination of sensory capacities in aquatic organisms.
- Theoretical modeling of consciousness evolution.
Main Results:
- The water-to-land transition may not be the sole driver of conscious vision.
- Aquatic life possesses complex sensory systems that could support early forms of consciousness.
- Consciousness may have deeper evolutionary roots predating terrestrial adaptation.
Conclusions:
- Consciousness likely evolved earlier than proposed by Fleming and Michel.
- Sensory processing in aquatic environments may have played a crucial role in the evolution of consciousness.
- Slow decision-making processes in aquatic animals might be precursors to conscious awareness.
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