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@RickiTarr @theropologist Evolution is not purposeful. It does not progress. It is just an ongoing process that sometimes produces species and individuals more fit than others.

Humans who are able to remember things are better able to survive than humans who cannot. So, there is clear selection pressure for memory. Similarly, the genes of humans who can share their memories with other humans in their community who share many of their genes or who will cooperate to protect them are also more likely to survive, so there is clear selection pressure for what we might call story telling.

Is there selection pressure for remembering accurately vs remembering approximately? Maybe. Probably. Is there selection pressure for perfect recollection vs. pretty good recollection? I’m not sure. We do have individuals with eidetic or highly superior autobiographical memories. And they are not necessarily the happiest or fittest individuals from the point of view of survival. See for example: https://time.com/5045521/highly-superior-autobiographical-memory-hsam/