The natural history of intelligent systems: toward understanding major transitions in cognitive evolution

In this first set of explorations/meditations (of three), we examine major transitions in cognitive evolution and provides a framework for understanding different types of intelligence in naturally evolved systems. Drawing on synthetic perspectives from multiple theorists, we review several key taxonomies of cognitive sophistication, including Dennett's hierarchy of creatures (Darwinian, Skinnerian, Popperian, and Gregorian), Pearl's ladder of causation (association, intervention, and counterfactuals), and Tomasello's evolution of agency (goal-directed, intentional, rational, and socially normative). We place particular emphasis on Tomasello's account, which traces the development of increasingly sophisticated forms of agency from early vertebrates to modern humans. The paper also examines how "unlimited associative learning" may mark critical transitions in cognitive evolution. This review provides groundwork for two subsequent papers exploring social intelligence, human uniqueness, and artificial intelligence. We suggest that understanding these natural histories of intelligence may be crucial for developing artificial systems that can robustly engage in causal reasoning and social interaction. This theoretical synthesis offers insights into both the evolution of natural intelligence and potential pathways for developing artificial agents with sophisticated cognitive capabilities.