Direct Perception

The entities in Rama are very simple and they don't show signs of traditional "intelligence", being guided by the environment more than reason. 

A common assumption is intelligence should be hard. Complex algorithms pick the best course of action by analizing all the parametrs of a complex model. This is what humans do when they play chess, for example. 

What about a coachroch? Their avoid danger by always running away from light, a very simple heuristic, called Idiothetic behaviour. 

The coachroach did not have to reason his situation. His direct perception had enough information to plot a path to action.