Is the Human Mind Unique?
Scientists from many different fields discuss cognitive abilities often regarded as unique to humans including humor, morality, symbolism, creativity and preoccupation with the minds of others. They assess the functional uniqueness of these attributes, as opposed to the anatomical uniqueness, and whether they are indeed quantitatively or qualitatively unique to humans. Presented by the Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) at UC San Diego.
11 videos 5 hours
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 1
Archaeological Evidence; Desperately Seeking Explanation; Moral Sense
Cognitive abilities often regarded as unique to humans include humor, morality, symbolism, creativity, and preoccupation with the minds of others. In these compelling talks, emphasis is placed on the functional uniqueness of these attributes, as opposed to the anatomical uniqueness, and whether these attributes are indeed quantitatively or qualitatively unique to humans. Colin Renfrew (McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research) begins with the Archaeological Evidence for Mind, followed by Daniel Povinelli (Univ of Louisiana at Lafayette) on Desperately Seeking Explanation, and Patricia Churchland (UC San Diego) on Moral Sense. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [4/2013]
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 2
Artistry; Symbolic Communication; Metaphor and the Great Leap
Cognitive abilities often regarded as unique to humans include humor, morality, symbolism, creativity, and preoccupation with the minds of others. In these compelling talks, emphasis is placed on the functional uniqueness of these attributes, as opposed to the anatomical uniqueness, and whether these attributes are indeed quantitatively or qualitatively unique to humans. Merlin Donald (Queen's Univ) begins with Skilled Performance and Artistry, followed by Terry Deacon (UC Berkeley) on Symbolic Communication: Why Is Human Thought So Flexible?", and V.S. Ramachandran (UC San Diego) on Inter-Modular Interactions, Metaphor, and the "Great Leap." Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [4/2013]
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 3
Nicholas Humphrey: Entering the Soul Niche
Human beings are animal-machines with added souls. This was famously Descartes' view, and it's the view of a good many people today. Nicholas Humphrey (Darwin College) is one of them. He contends that humans have evolved a kind of consciousness that, when egged on by culture, leads them to have an extraordinary view of their own metaphysical importance. In fact, Humphrey believes that it is arguably the main driver of human evolution in the last hundred thousand years. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 4
Colin Renfrew: Archaeological Evidence for Mind
Colin Renfrew (McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research) discusses the "Sapient Paradox." The genetic basis of humankind was established 200,000 years ago, and yet the tectonic phase of human development is only 10,000 years old. So what took so long? Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 5
Patricia Churchland: Moral Sense
Morality is a social behavior seen in mammals, and some birds, which depends on an interlocking brain organization shaped by four factors. Patricia Churchland (UC San Diego) discusses how the importance of these factors can vary between species, as a function of natural selection operating on subcortical structures, and of the degree of flexibility of the cortical organization. For example, increased capacity for impulse control is a feature of frontal brain expansion. Social benefits are accompanied by social demands; we have to get along, but not put up with too much. Hence impulse control -- being aggressive or compassionate or indulgent at the right time -- is hugely advantageous. In different contexts and cultures, expression of sociality may vary, as local factors limit solutions to the social problems of getting along and prospering despite competition between individuals. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 6
Steven Mithen: An Evolved and Creative Mind
Steve Mithen (Univ of Reading) discusses what the archaeological and fossil records tell us about the similarities and differences between the minds of Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 7
Daniel Povinelli: Desperately Seeking Explanation
In this talk, Daniel Povinelli (Univ of Louisiana at Lafayette) suggests that "desperately seeking explanation" is a uniquely human mental function. In science, this "explanatory drive" can be properly regarded as a mania, which, as it proceeds largely uncontrolled, will continue to yield products that both improve, and threaten, our very existence. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 8
Terry Deacon: Why Is Human Thought So Flexible?
Why is human thought so flexible? Although many features of human brains can be attributed to selection for novel cognitive functions (e.g., for symbolic language), relaxation of selection on other attributes has additionally contributed to de-differentiation of certain brain functions. Here a parallel process is described by Terry Deacon (UC Berkeley) involving domestication and birdsong. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 9
Merlin Donald: Skilled Performance and Artistry
Merlin Donald (Queen's Univ) opines that if one crucial adaptation had to be singled out as the signature move that started the human journey, he would nominate "mimesis," or body artistry, which is the platform on which all complex skilled performance, including language, has evolved. A capacity for refining skill started to evolve very early in the emergence of hominids, as testified by the existence of very ancient stone tools that predate the appearance of our species. Such tools cannot be made without a capacity to rehearse systematically and an ability to imagine an idealized performance. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 10
V.S. Ramachandran: Inter-Modular Interactions Metaphor Great Leap
V.S. Ramachandran (UC San Diego) argues that human mental uniqueness emerged from the fortuitous co-emergence of certain novel anatomical structures and functions and equally fortuitous synergistic interactions between them. These include structures involved in inter-sensory abstraction (IPL and its uniquely human subdivisions; supra-marginal gyrus and angular gyrus; certain frontal structures, Wernicke's area, etc.) and sensorimotor abstraction (mirror neurons). He contends that these were then exapted for higher-level abstractions such as metaphor. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny"
Is the Human Mind Unique? Episode 11
Entering the Soul Niche; An Evolved and Creative Mind; and Humor
Cognitive abilities often regarded as unique to humans include humor, morality, symbolism, creativity, and preoccupation with the minds of others. In these compelling talks, emphasis is placed on the functional uniqueness of these attributes, as opposed to the anatomical uniqueness, and whether these attributes are indeed quantitatively or qualitatively unique to humans. Nicholas Humphrey (Darwin College, Cambridge) begins with Entering the "Soul Niche," followed by Steven Mithen (Univ of Reading) on An Evolved and Creative Mind, and Daniel Dennett (Tufts Univ) on Humor. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [4/2013]
 |
| screenshot |
 |
| screenshot |
