Evolution, time, and the observer
Evolution, time, and the observer
Fleming and Michel propose that conscious vision evolved as a result of the water-to-land transition of animal life, enabling what they call “reality monitoring.” Here, we challenge their account by drawing on evolutionary arguments and the sensory capacities of aquatic life. Consciousness, we suggest, may have deeper evolutionary roots with significant roles for “slow” decision-making.
Browning, Heather
8d13aa04-7648-4403-b29c-11f7674f6618
Veit, Walter
8137e8be-a04c-41c6-979e-87fe1a4010be
Browning, Heather
8d13aa04-7648-4403-b29c-11f7674f6618
Veit, Walter
8137e8be-a04c-41c6-979e-87fe1a4010be
Browning, Heather and Veit, Walter
(2026)
Evolution, time, and the observer.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 49, [e170].
(doi:10.1017/S0140525X25102926).
Abstract
Fleming and Michel propose that conscious vision evolved as a result of the water-to-land transition of animal life, enabling what they call “reality monitoring.” Here, we challenge their account by drawing on evolutionary arguments and the sensory capacities of aquatic life. Consciousness, we suggest, may have deeper evolutionary roots with significant roles for “slow” decision-making.
Text
BBS Commentary on Sensory Horizons and the Functions of Conscious Vision
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 September 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 25 June 2026
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 506337
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/506337
ISSN: 0140-525X
PURE UUID: 10502e1d-8387-4257-8487-10eae007b4ee
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Date deposited: 04 Nov 2025 18:04
Last modified: 20 Aug 2026 02:44
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Author:
Heather Browning
Author:
Walter Veit
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