Kevin N. Laland
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- May 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780691182810
- eISBN:
- 9780691184470
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Princeton University Press
- DOI:
- 10.23943/princeton/9780691182810.003.0007
- Subject:
- Biology, Evolutionary Biology / Genetics
This chapter describes three theoretical analyses which shed light on the question as to what was different about the behavior, morphology, or circumstances of our ancestors that allowed our ...
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This chapter describes three theoretical analyses which shed light on the question as to what was different about the behavior, morphology, or circumstances of our ancestors that allowed our technology and culture to take off in such an extraordinary manner. Here, mathematical modeling has proven extremely insightful, particularly by demonstrating that high-fidelity transmission would lead to cultural traits persisting for extremely long periods. The theoretical findings supported a verbal argument that had been made previously by psychologist Michael Tomasello at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. Tomasello had proposed that our species' unique capabilities for language, teaching, and efficient imitation had allowed us to transmit knowledge with a higher fidelity than observed in other animals, and that this transmission fidelity explained the existence of cumulative culture (what he termed “ratcheting”) in humans, but not in other animals. The chapter ends with an account of an experimental investigation in children, chimpanzees, and capuchin monkeys that reinforces these theoretical findings.Less
This chapter describes three theoretical analyses which shed light on the question as to what was different about the behavior, morphology, or circumstances of our ancestors that allowed our technology and culture to take off in such an extraordinary manner. Here, mathematical modeling has proven extremely insightful, particularly by demonstrating that high-fidelity transmission would lead to cultural traits persisting for extremely long periods. The theoretical findings supported a verbal argument that had been made previously by psychologist Michael Tomasello at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. Tomasello had proposed that our species' unique capabilities for language, teaching, and efficient imitation had allowed us to transmit knowledge with a higher fidelity than observed in other animals, and that this transmission fidelity explained the existence of cumulative culture (what he termed “ratcheting”) in humans, but not in other animals. The chapter ends with an account of an experimental investigation in children, chimpanzees, and capuchin monkeys that reinforces these theoretical findings.
H. Clark Barrett
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- March 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780199348305
- eISBN:
- 9780199348336
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199348305.003.0011
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind, General
This chapter explores the phenomenon of cumulative or ratcheting cultural evolution, and its consequences for the evolution of increasingly complex cultural products. It describes the evolution of ...
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This chapter explores the phenomenon of cumulative or ratcheting cultural evolution, and its consequences for the evolution of increasingly complex cultural products. It describes the evolution of conventions and mechanisms for learning them. Artifacts and moral norms are discussed as examples.Less
This chapter explores the phenomenon of cumulative or ratcheting cultural evolution, and its consequences for the evolution of increasingly complex cultural products. It describes the evolution of conventions and mechanisms for learning them. Artifacts and moral norms are discussed as examples.
