The most common means of communication in the world is language. According to a very conservative estimate there are more then three thousand languages spoken in various parts of the world. It is obvious that these Languages did not fall on earth from outer space, despite the views of some contemporary scholars such as Chomsky, who argues that raised as some strange genetic mutation unrelated to other aspects of human cognition and social life. In a rather, in other words, Teasels presents his theory of human cognition. While it is believed that perhaps Teasels is probably right in a part at least and some items were interesting.
The Cultural Origins of Human Cognition was difficult to completely get through despite it brief length of under 220 pages. He goes over his theory of intentionality and co specifics perhaps a dozen times too many to make the book any sort of page turner. In the beginning of the book, Teasels presents a contrast among humans and other primates. He then points out how other primates can develop some aspects of human social cognition and cultural learning by being raised in human cultures, but they are unable to create a similar culture on their own amongst their own. Unlike most of the books written by primatologists, he focuses on the differences between humans and other primates to make his case.
Getting back to primates and culture, though, the description of the ratchet effect beginning on page 37 is very engaging. Simply stated, the ratchet effect is cumulative natural selection acting on culture rather than a genotype or phenotype. As in words, ideas, traditions, skills, and other such cultural artifacts were passed down from generation to generation they tend to have narrative enhancements made to them. In effect, each generation ratchets up specific items from their prior culture.
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