Human Cultural Evolution

8/2/2019 Human Cultural Evolution

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Human Cultural

Evolution



Interplay of Significant Factors in

Cultural Evolution

Culture

Can be defined as the ways and practices of a

society

It includes the ideas, behavior, transactions,

manufacture, relationships, of a group, derived

from the natural environment and shaped by

history.



Technology

Defined as a scientific knowledge translated into

practical purposes

The term can also be used in a generic sense

- As human manipultation of nature

- The use of fire- Agriculture derived from experience



- Specific technologies are developed as extension

of human organs to make life easier, more

productive or enjoyable.



Politics

- Defined as the distribution of power in a society

Economics

- is the system by which goods and services are

exchanged



Hunting-Gathering or Paleolithic:

First Technological Stage

Nomadic

Few children

Learned to use tools: spears, slingshots formore efficient hunting and gathering

From nature: stones, animal bones and horns,

wood, rattan, and vines, etc.



Power and Leadership.

What was conceivably the power relations in such early

groups?

Did they choose the strongest and most adept at the skills

needed for food gathering and group protection from

animals and other nomad groups?



Among the ethnic groups of the

Philippines:

The culture of consensual decisions is

predominant.

The leaders are often the wise among the

elderly.

Their concern is for all and for the survival of

the group, not so much position of power or

wealth.



Are the hierarchical structures and ethic of

dominance by the powerful, imports from the

West? Or do such political relationships naturally develop

from the need to order when a society grows in size

and complexity?



It is safe to say that societies varied across the

world in terms of technology, social, and

political systems and stayed so for a long time

because of the virtual lack of contact and

communications among them.



What was the impact on the environment of

hunting and gathering societies?

Relatively little

Because of their low numbers and low

technology, they were not capable of large-scale

changes in landscape, destruction of ecosystems,

nor pollution of water and air.



However there is evidence of what is now

interpreted as Pleistocene overkill, the

disappearance around 10,000 to 11,000 years ago

of large animals.

These were the mammoths, giant beavers and so

forth.

There is evidence that extinction were caused by

humans



As to how humans caused the extinction,

considering their relatively low numbers and

technology speculations differ

One reason given is simply over-hunting



Another possibility is habitat modification by

indirect human action and behavior

No matter the actual reason, this phenomenon

shows that primitive as well as modern humans

could alter the environment drastically.



Critical Thinking Questions

1. Is it possible for humanity to go back to the

Hunting Gathering mode of living?

2. Which of the following factors do you think is

most responsible for the poor state of the

environment today-technology, economics,

politics, population or values?

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Human Cultural Evolution