Humans have evolved a unique form of intelligence, with cognitive complexity unseen in other species. This has been the secret behind our agricultural, scientific and technological progress. It has let us dominate a planet and understand vast amounts about the universe. But it has also brought us to the brink of catastrophe: climate change looms and a mass extinction is already under way, yet there is little sign of a concerted effort to change our ways.
Our troubles could be compounded by the fact that human genetic diversity is abysmally low. “One small group of chimpanzees has more genetic diversity than the entire human species,” says Michael Graziano of Princeton University. It’s not unthinkable that a global disaster could wipe us out.
For this, we have an awkward double-act to blame. Metzinger argues that we have reached this point because our intellectual prowess must still work alongside hardwired primitive traits. “It is cognitive complexity, but without compassion and flexibility in our motivational structure,” says Metzinger.
In other words, we are still motivated by some rather basic instincts, such as greed and jealousy, and not by a desire for global solidarity, empathy or rationality. And it’s unclear whether we will evolve the necessary social skills in time.
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