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Evolution, Culture And Mind

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Nic Russell
Nic Russell

This document discusses evolution, culture, and the mind. It explores how humans evolved the ability to learn through genetic and evolutionary means. Our shared knowledge and culture are based on our minds and intelligence. It examines how language, tool use, and bipedalism set humans apart from other species. It also looks at how biology influences behaviors like altruism and gender roles, though there is more complexity than simplistic views. The document discusses the brain and consciousness, how neurons communicate, and issues around explaining consciousness. Culture and its relationship to evolution and cognition are also addressed.

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Evolution, Culture and Mind Presented by: Nicola Russell ID: 03020584 For Lecturer: Alan Loc
Evolution: Fact or Fiction?
Look after me.
How did we learn to learn? Our genetic evolutionary history primes us to learn Knowledge resides within our minds Our shared knowledge is the basis of our culture Plotkin termed these: the primary, secondary and tertiary heuristics
The Adaptationist Extraordinaire
From x to txt. What makes us different from the rest? Is it... Language? Our opposable thumb? Our upright stance? Or all three?
Do you fancy a bit? No...you dont smell right to me!
I love you... Will you have my baby?
Whose baby is that? A woman will always know A man must believe what he is told... ...this makes family...well until DNA that is!
Im here...now what? I need to use my intelligence to outwit the next guy! Whats the best strategy? Ah...manipulate him to get what I want! Thank you Machiavellian
Man hunt! Woman Cook! Our biology influences our behaviour So... Men are designed to hunt Women are designed to care Well actually... Theres a bit more to it!
Altruism ...is it a) selfless act to help others? b) Biologically determined to ensure your genes remain c) Socially determined to help others so they help you d) All of the above
Arent you the same as me? Yeah bro...Im a kiwi too!
How did we get this diverse?
Tamarillo...I meant Tomasello!
Brain Power Our brains comprise of approximately a trillion neurons Neurons communicate with one another through electrochemical messages These form neural networks believed to give rise to out behaviour
Consciousness and Mind The hard problem: How does consciousness give rise to experience? Well...David Chalmers says: It just does! We can explain the componentry but not the experience.
Culture
The Future
This thing called alive
References Benzon, W.L., & Hays, D.G. (1990). The evolution of cognition. Journal of Social and Biological Structures, 13(4):297-320. Chalmers, D. (2002). Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary Readings . Oxford Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1988). Homicide. New York: Aldine. Geary, D. C., Vigil, J., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2004). Evolution of human mate choice. Journal of Sex Research , 41, 27-42. Herz, R.S., & Inzlicht, M. (2002). Gender differences in response to physical and social signals involved in human mate selection: The importance of smell for women. Evolution and Human Behavior, 23, 359-364. Humphrey, N. (1976). The social function of intellect. In P.P.G Bateson & R.A. Hinde (Eds.) Growing points in ethology. Cambridge: CAMBRIDGE University Press. Chapter 9, pp. 303-16. Plotkin, H. (1995). Darwin machines and the nature of knowledge: Concerning adaptations, instinct and the evolution of intelligence. London: Penguin Books. Chapter 5, pp.138-165. Tomasello, M. (1999). The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition. Harvard University Press. Trivers, R. L. (1972) Parental investment and sexual selection. In B. Campbell (Ed.) Sexual selection and the descent of man , 1871-1971 (pp 136-179). Chicago, Aldine. Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press Websters Universal Collegiate Dictionary, 2001

More Related Content

Evolution, Culture And Mind

  • 1. Evolution, Culture and Mind Presented by: Nicola Russell ID: 03020584 For Lecturer: Alan Loc
  • 4. How did we learn to learn? Our genetic evolutionary history primes us to learn Knowledge resides within our minds Our shared knowledge is the basis of our culture Plotkin termed these: the primary, secondary and tertiary heuristics
  • 6. From x to txt. What makes us different from the rest? Is it... Language? Our opposable thumb? Our upright stance? Or all three?
  • 7. Do you fancy a bit? No...you dont smell right to me!
  • 8. I love you... Will you have my baby?
  • 9. Whose baby is that? A woman will always know A man must believe what he is told... ...this makes family...well until DNA that is!
  • 10. Im here...now what? I need to use my intelligence to outwit the next guy! Whats the best strategy? Ah...manipulate him to get what I want! Thank you Machiavellian
  • 11. Man hunt! Woman Cook! Our biology influences our behaviour So... Men are designed to hunt Women are designed to care Well actually... Theres a bit more to it!
  • 12. Altruism ...is it a) selfless act to help others? b) Biologically determined to ensure your genes remain c) Socially determined to help others so they help you d) All of the above
  • 13. Arent you the same as me? Yeah bro...Im a kiwi too!
  • 14. How did we get this diverse?
  • 16. Brain Power Our brains comprise of approximately a trillion neurons Neurons communicate with one another through electrochemical messages These form neural networks believed to give rise to out behaviour
  • 17. Consciousness and Mind The hard problem: How does consciousness give rise to experience? Well...David Chalmers says: It just does! We can explain the componentry but not the experience.
  • 20. This thing called alive
  • 21. References Benzon, W.L., & Hays, D.G. (1990). The evolution of cognition. Journal of Social and Biological Structures, 13(4):297-320. Chalmers, D. (2002). Philosophy of Mind: Classical and Contemporary Readings . Oxford Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1988). Homicide. New York: Aldine. Geary, D. C., Vigil, J., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2004). Evolution of human mate choice. Journal of Sex Research , 41, 27-42. Herz, R.S., & Inzlicht, M. (2002). Gender differences in response to physical and social signals involved in human mate selection: The importance of smell for women. Evolution and Human Behavior, 23, 359-364. Humphrey, N. (1976). The social function of intellect. In P.P.G Bateson & R.A. Hinde (Eds.) Growing points in ethology. Cambridge: CAMBRIDGE University Press. Chapter 9, pp. 303-16. Plotkin, H. (1995). Darwin machines and the nature of knowledge: Concerning adaptations, instinct and the evolution of intelligence. London: Penguin Books. Chapter 5, pp.138-165. Tomasello, M. (1999). The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition. Harvard University Press. Trivers, R. L. (1972) Parental investment and sexual selection. In B. Campbell (Ed.) Sexual selection and the descent of man , 1871-1971 (pp 136-179). Chicago, Aldine. Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in society. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press Websters Universal Collegiate Dictionary, 2001

Editor's Notes

  1. Welcome to this summary lecture on Evolution, Culture and Mind. I am going to take you on a journey through time to discover what makes us so unique and how we ended up at the top of the evolutionary hierarchy. In doing so, I hope to enlighten you to how our behaviour is deeply embedded in our biological roots and how this influences the way we learn, interact with others, share information and subsequently develop culture. Often times these processes are ruthlessly at odds with one another, with some driving us toward survival and reproduction, while others push us toward self sacrifice and altruism. In our quest to unearth the answers to these question, we will gain insight and understanding which will benefit generations to come. In the words of Einstein: "Any fool can know. The point is to understand.