Plant and Primates: Postcards from the Stoned Age Summary and Analysis

Human are unique due to their cognitive activities. For example, human beings are able to speak, fantasize, fall in love, create art , recall and use memories, and participate in sports. This cognition allows human beings to manage behaviors that are genetically preprogrammed in other species.

The use of symbols and language to store information outside of the physical brain allows for easy transference of information. Language allowed information to cross space and time - even a simple warning cry could result in increased species fitness.

McKenna is careful to note that hallucinogens did not cause or create consciousness - more that hallucinogens catalyzed awareness of consciousness and self-reflection. Human beings may have already been on the pathway to increased cognitive functioning and language, and consuming compounds such...