The Evolution of the Social Mind: From Bipedalism to the Age of AI

This article presents a fascinating journey through the history of human social cognition. The author examines how key evolutionary moments—from the adoption of bipedal posture and the development of the neocortex to the Upper Paleolithic revolution—shaped our ability to create complex social structures. The text explores the concepts of orders of intentionality and Dunbar's limit, explaining how language, music, and belief systems have served as tools for binding communities together. Finally, the author raises questions about the future of interpersonal relationships in the age of artificial intelligence, examining whether digital simulations can replace traditional practices of reasoning and biological mechanisms for building social capital. This is a profound analysis of the limits of the human mind in the face of technology.