>>280348869
I'm not going to respond to your claims about the necessary social conditions for developing magic because that's retarded.

>learn those necessary components of language... which would require a society... which would require empathy and community to build
Solitary animals are capable of some degree of communication. There's no reason to assume a more intelligent solitary animal would be incapable of more complex communication. Alligators are cannibals but they still hang out together because loyalty is not a necessary requirement for the existence of beneficial social behavior.

>Alligators do exhibit some forms of social cooperation, but these are limited and context-dependent. The most notable example is among hatchlings and juveniles: newly hatched alligators form small groups called "pods," which stay together for protection against predators, demonstrating a clear benefit from group living. The mother also guards her young for up to two years, providing further cooperative defense.
>Among adults, alligators are generally territorial and solitary, especially males, but they can be found in small, close-knit groups—particularly in favorable basking or feeding spots. While not highly cooperative, adults do display complex social behaviors such as dominance hierarchies, ritualized displays, and vocal communication, especially during courtship and territorial disputes. These behaviors help reduce direct conflict and organize access to resources, which can be seen as a form of social coordination rather than true cooperation.

Why are you so confident that sufficiently intelligent alligators couldn't evolve complex language or society?