> and therefore exhibit sentience based on varying states
Consciousness and sentience are not synonymous. It's possible to conceive of being conscious, but having no sense inputs. Without sense inputs, you can't be described as "sentient".
> As you progress through the evolutionary chain
Ah, evolution is always progress! It's not obvious to me that humans are "more evolved" than e.g. ants. I assume ants have less of whatever you are referring to as "self-awareness and inner thought"; but there are many more ants on the planet than humans, and I believe they actually comprise more of the Earth's biomass than humans. So arguably, they are better-adapted to this environment than humans, and so more advanced.
Consciousness and sentience are not synonymous. It's possible to conceive of being conscious, but having no sense inputs. Without sense inputs, you can't be described as "sentient".
> As you progress through the evolutionary chain
Ah, evolution is always progress! It's not obvious to me that humans are "more evolved" than e.g. ants. I assume ants have less of whatever you are referring to as "self-awareness and inner thought"; but there are many more ants on the planet than humans, and I believe they actually comprise more of the Earth's biomass than humans. So arguably, they are better-adapted to this environment than humans, and so more advanced.