Re: Article: brain & tools; Well-tooled Primates

<big snip>

"Our ancient forerunners didn't think up these technological advances so
much as explore their way into them, according to this perspective. The
distinction is important because rule following and planning-not to mention
self-awareness, imitation, and language skills-flowered after prehistoric
humans attained toolmaking expertise."

This is, IMHO, a brilliant deduction and beautifully stated. We "explored"
our way into our humaness! Then, with a couple of haphazard mutations, and
taaa-daaa! hss!

"Researchers who subscribe to these ideas theorize that modern humans are
neither blank slates nor carriers of a batch of instincts unique to our
species. Instead, via language and cultural traditions, people have
collectively molded a shared primate-evolutionary heritage for their own
purposes."

I know that Jim Mc will be jumping up and down on this one, but culture in
this view certainly shaped our evolution. And it does point up the need for
us, as inhabitants of a single, fragile planet, to somehow "shape" our
future so that we don't kill ourselves off.

"Fairly ancient brain systems were elaborated in new ways when human
ancestors began making and using stone tools," says Stout, now at University
College, London. "This process relied on an education of attention, not
intellect."

<big snip>

So now that we have the brain systems in place, it is up to us in sap to
elaborate how niche, genetics, sexual selection, etc. played into our
evolution. Seems like a lot of our brain growth is going to now has to be
ascribed to language and culture, logic and mathematics, thinking and
pondering. Imagination, Thought, Understanding, and Memory = ITUM.
--chap


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