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Evolution, time, and the observer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2026

Heather Browning Open the ORCID record for Heather Browning [Opens in a new window]  and
Walter Veit Open the ORCID record for Walter Veit [Opens in a new window]
Heather Browning*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK drheatherbrowning@gmail.com
Walter Veit
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Reading, Reading, UK wrwveit@gmail.com Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
*
*Corresponding author.
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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.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e170
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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