The rule could be anything, as funny or as serious as you want. The universe will progress in a similar way that it has up until this point, unless your changed rule prevented it from doing so.

Some examples might be:

  • The invention of currency is not allowed.
  • Iron is slightly less stable.
  • The Ancient Greeks are able to cultivate Silphium, which does not go extinct now.
  • Icalasari
    35•3 months ago

    A necessary requirement for higher intelligence is proper, functioning empathy. If you lack this, you’re just… Incapable of intelligent thought beyond that of a particularly stupid dog

    • Kairos
      16•3 months ago

      Humans do generally have proper functioning empathy

      • @[email protected]
        5•3 months ago

        a moral impetus, informed directly by empathy, that is so overwhelming that the feelings of others are tantamount to one’s own

        I’m guessing this is their meaning. Sounds interesting. Maybe that version of humanity would have far fewer nukes and a lot more good sex.

        • Kairos
          1•3 months ago

          The problem is that basic empathy only goes so far. But we [almost] all have it.

      • @leftzero
        4•3 months ago

        CEOs and similar psychopaths don’t, though.

        (Though those already tend to have the intelligence of a particularly stupid dog anyway, so I don’t really see how this would change anything.)