The “somehow” is because nobody had articulated how they are actually special, besides the usual religion driven answer.

The obvious thing to point to is that we’ve acquired more complex language, which enabled us to do various neat things. To which I say ok but a zip file of floats and an algorithm has that too.

Eukaryogenesis was probably a more significant / special historical moment than language or writing.

I think this is all driven by people’s fear of their own insignificance. Is the pig that I ate last week really that much different than me? When I too die and turn into dirt or ash is that really it? It’s all over? Just like that?

So what would qualify as being special? I haven’t seen a compelling argument as to why we are.