Interdisciplinary Anthropology: Continuing Evolution of ManWolfgang Welsch, Wolf Singer, André Wunder This volume is the result of a research project entitled “Evolutionary Continuity – Human Specifics – The Possibility of Objective Knowledge” that was carried out by representatives of six academic disciplines (evolutionary biology, evolutionary anthropology, brain research, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology and philosophy) over a period of three and a half years. The starting point for the project was the newly emerging riddle of human uniqueness: though the uniqueness of human beings is undisputable, all explanations for this fact have successively been discarded or refuted in recent decades. There is no special factor that could explain the particularities of human existence. Rather, all human skills derive from a continuous relation to pre-human skills, that is to say, to elements that were developed earlier in the phylogeny and were later inherited. But starting from abilities that are anything but special, how could the particularity of human beings have evolved? This was the guiding question of the project. In this work we try to answer it by addressing the following problems: How strong is evolutionary continuity in human beings? How can we understand that it gave way to cultural discontinuity? Which aspect of cultural existence is really unique to humans? Can the possibility of objective knowledge be seen as a (admittedly extreme) case in point? – The answers are meant to help clarify the central issue of contemporary scientific anthropology. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Conceptual Forms and the Functional Architecture of the Perceptual System
| 19 |
Prospects of Objective Knowledge
| 55 |
Visiting a Construction Site in the Human Brain
| 79 |
The Evolutionary Heritage in the Human Voice
| 105 |
Other editions - View all
Interdisciplinary Anthropology: Continuing Evolution of Man Wolfgang Welsch,Wolf Singer,André Wunder No preview available - 2011 |
Interdisciplinary Anthropology: Continuing Evolution of Man Wolfgang Welsch,Wolf Singer,André Wunder No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
ability abstract achievements action activity animals appear approach aspects assigned associated attention authentic behavior biological brain calls Cambridge chimpanzees cognitive collective communication complex computational conceptual forms connections considered context conventional cooperation coordination cortex cortical cultural emergence emotions engage et al evidence evolution evolutionary example existence experience expression external fact frontal function given higher human idea increase indicate individual infants input Institute integration intentional interaction internal interpretations involved joint knowledge language lateral learning levels mental mind multiperspectivity nature norms objects organization particular perceptual system perspective phenomena philosophy physical planning play positive possible prediction prefrontal Press pretend principles processes properties question realism reasoning refer regard relations role rules seems sense sensory similar social specific status structure studies subjects suggest task theoretical theory thinking tion Tomasello types understanding University vocal young