Human Evolution: Physical Changes and Shifting Worldviews
Physical Changes Necessary for Language
In order to have language, it is necessary to develop characteristics similar to other individuals, like vocal cords, and also a developed mind to be able to remember and repeat what others say and to reproduce it.
Related Physical Developments
To achieve physical development like the one mentioned previously, a smaller jaw or even smaller teeth are necessary to give the brain space to develop and grow. Another change could be the sophistication of our throat, which allows our vocal cords to develop.
Role of Thumb, Jaw, and Teeth
Yes, our thumb is important, although nowadays it is becoming less so for survival. However, we are starting to use it for different purposes, such as writing on mobile phones or holding pens or pencils.
Regarding the jaw and teeth, their size could vary according to our development of tools or ways of eating, potentially becoming smaller or larger to leave space for a bigger or smaller brain.
Hominization vs. Humanization
No, humanization and hominization are two differentiated facets, but they influence each other. Hominization is the biological process of genetically transmitted anatomical and physiological changes; in other words, it is the process of developing physical characteristics distinctive of humans. Humanization, however, is a process where the behavior of individuals of different species of hominids changes. These changes, unlike in hominization, are made through trial and error and transmitted through imitation.
Nature-Culture Coevolution
Anthropologists talk about nature-culture coevolution because it has become obvious that, at the same time humans evolve physically and anatomically, our culture, traditions, and ways of living change and evolve too. Furthermore, as we carry all our history and past traditions, we are constantly building new habits upon them, adding layers to this ‘cultural evolution’.
Historical Shifts in Worldviews
Ancient Worldview (Until 5th Century)
- Aristotle and Ptolemy
- Universe in 2: Until the Moon, Beyond the Moon
- Geocentrism: circular orbits
- Time in cycles: agriculture season
- 4 causes: big organism (because of the final cause)
- Naturalism, polytheism
Middle Ages (5th-15th Century)
- Aristotle and the scriptures
- Deterministic but free will (in humans)
- Time: linear, creation, creatio ex nihilo
- Geocentrism, with religious interpretations
- Theism/theocentrism
Modern Times (16th-19th Century)
- Copernicus → Heliocentrism
- Kepler → elliptical orbits
- Galileo → dynamic universe, motion
- Newton → determinism, universal laws, linear but absolute time, mechanicism
- No longer 4 causes → only 2: material and efficient
- Deism: who designed the machine?
- Pantheism: (Spinoza)
Contemporary Worldview (19th Century – Today)
- 19th Century → Evolution (Emergence) → Indeterminism
- 20th Century → Relativity. Time relativity, gravity not a force, but a warp of space-time
- 21st Century → Quantum mechanics: Indeterminism (“same causes do not always produce the same effects”). Metaphysical dualism: Particle + wave
- Theory of chaos: unpredictable, “small causes have very large effects”
- Atheism