Re: Bo Graslund "Early humans & their world" Routledge


"Lee Olsen" <paleocity@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1125160832.098777.115580@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Lee Olsen wrote:
>
>> Langdon's book came in this morning (no Bo yet). Just quickly thumbed
>> through it and I would like to make a few initial observations.
>> 1) This book seems to be written more for the biologically challenged,
>> like myself, rather than the professional (maybe a biology 101
>> textbook?). Probably not a book for Su or Jason (who is too busy
>> counting cat hairs to engage in something at this level).
>
> Yep, he did say it was meant to be a textbook on human anatomy for
> students with "little prior exposure to evolution or anthropology."
>
>
>
>> 2) Marc Verhaegen (1985) is cited and has a few barbs thrown at AAH
>> here and there, but for the most part it does not seem to be a
>> critique devoted to that particular hypothesis.
>
>
> Although the word aquatic doesn't appear that often, Langdon's
> explanations as to how various human strategies originated are more of
> a critique on AAH than I first realized. This book will not be received
> kindly by the AAH group.
>
> Many of the subjects that have been brought up on sap are discussed in
> this book, and the author covers a lot of ground, so I would think most
> on this list would find something of interest in this book.
> The basic anatomy descriptions(I even knew what a femur was) can be
> bypassed easily. The book's bibliography has over 1100 entries, it's
> easy to read, lots of up-to-date-fast facts on the latest fossils and
> has enough on human evolution to keep readers from falling asleep IMO.
> I would recommend anyone on this list, that has access to a library, to
> check it out. As far as buying it, all new books give me sticker shock,
> so I'll wait until copies show up on the used shelves, if the price is
> right I'll probably grab a copy.
>
>
>
>
>> 3) Noticed one obvious mistake, but will get to that later when I've
>> had more time to read the entire book.
>
>
> I didn't like this statement: "It appears the invention of stone tool
> working and the invention of the tool-wielding hand must both be
> considered gradual processes." Complex tool manufacturing turns up
> abruptly at Gona, seemingly without any prior evolution, and no
> conclusive evidence of what the hands looked like that made them. I
> don't see how he arrived at the conclusion of both being gradual.
>
Probably he is echoing a fairly common assumption that
somnething as complex as fashioning a stone tool must have
had precursor behaviours. Seeking out and using natural
pieces of rock with sharp edges or remodelling tree-branches.
Putting the two behaviours together in one package would
produce an abrupt rise of stone tool-making. Since apes
use tools ie modified natural objects it is no stretch to say
early hominids did the same. The path from point A to point B
is archaeologically invisible. Similarly the difference between
a hand that has power grip capability but not precision grip
capability and a hand with precision grip would imply an
evolutionary history of some depth. Sudden arrival of major
new morphologies and behaviours leads somewhat inevitably
into 'magic mutation' arguments which are denigrated by a great
many PAs although I've never seen a definitive refutation of the
possibility.

Just my two cents....

Rick Wagler


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Levels of description: explainable questions & questionable explanations
    ... class of "learning machines"). ... a more diverse repetoire of behaviours. ... drive the evolution of that repertoire? ... theory of variation they represent the variations we have seen to date ...
    (comp.ai.philosophy)
  • Re: Abruptness at Gona
    ... >>> invention of stone tool working and the ... >> tool must have had precursor behaviours. ... >> no stretch to say early hominids did the same. ... > behaviors involving rocks and sticks. ...
    (sci.anthropology.paleo)
  • Abruptness at Gona
    ... >> invention of stone tool working and the ... > tool must have had precursor behaviours. ... > no stretch to say early hominids did the same. ... behaviors involving rocks and sticks. ...
    (sci.anthropology.paleo)
  • Re: 15. SOCIAL
    ... "PROBLEMS OF EVOLUTION": 15. ... Altruism ... Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life" (Darwin, 1859, ... some other set of behaviours helped society along then certain quarters ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: the culmination of evolution is eugenics
    ... nmp wrote: ... have its origin in the biological process of evolution, ... Well, yes, *all* of our behaviours find their origin in our evolution. ...
    (talk.origins)