There's a great sci-fi novel that explores this topic (superintelligent alien life that lacks consciousness/self-awareness), but to recommend it here would spoil the big reveal! Talk about a Catch-22.
Oyvaqfvtug ol Crgre Jnggf srngherf ulcrevagryyvtrag nyvraf gung ynpx pbafpvbhfarff. Pbafpvbhfarff vf cerfragrq nf n "oht" - va bgure jbeqf, fbzrguvat gung bpphef nybat jvgu vagryyvtrapr ohg vf abg fgevpgyl arprffnel sbe vg, naq gung cebivqrf pyrne qbjafvqrf.
Qvnfcben ol Tert Rtna srngherf nyvraf gung...jryy...vg pna'g ernyyl or fhzznevmrq rnfvyl, ohg fbzr penml fuvg unccraf (yvxr va znal bs uvf obbxf).