Chapter 2 - The tree of knowledge Flashcards
What is the chapter summary?
Chapter 2 of “Sapiens” talks about the cognitive revolution that occurred between 70,000 to 30,000 years ago, attributed to the “Tree of Knowledge” mutation. This mutation resulted in the development of complex language among sapiens, enabling them to gossip, provide detailed information about their surroundings, and, most importantly, create myths or shared imagined realities. This ability distinguished humans from other species, such as chimpanzees, allowing for cooperation in larger groups than those found in other primate societies.
The shared imagined realities, which could be myths, religions, nationalistic ideas, or rules and laws, enabled humans to form large communities, cities, and nations. It’s argued that these constructs exist only in the collective imagination of humans and are key to fostering cooperation on a large scale.
Unlike other animals, sapiens didn’t have to wait for genetic mutations for significant behavioral changes. Instead, changes in myths and imagined realities could rapidly influence behavior, a flexibility that gave sapiens a distinct advantage.
Q1: What was the “Tree of Knowledge” mutation?
A1: The “Tree of Knowledge” mutation refers to the accidental mutations believed to have occurred between 70,000 and 30,000 years ago that led to the development of complex language among sapiens.
Q2: How did complex language change human societies?
A2: Complex language allowed humans to share detailed information, gossip, and create shared myths or imagined realities. This capability enabled cooperation in larger groups and ultimately led to the formation of large communities, cities, and nations.
Q3: What is the gossip theory?
A3: The gossip theory suggests that gossip played a crucial role in early human societies, helping to establish who was trustworthy, important, or a potential mate. It facilitated the growth of tribes and their safety, acting as a primitive form of journalism.
Q4: What is an “imagined reality”?
A4: An “imagined reality” is a shared belief or myth that only exists in the collective imagination of a group of people. These imagined realities, such as religion or nationalistic ideas, have been instrumental in fostering large-scale human cooperation.
Q5: How is the cognitive revolution linked with the change in human behaviour?
A5: The cognitive revolution marks a shift where changes in human behaviour began to occur not due to biological evolution, but because of changes in myths and imagined realities, facilitated by the development of complex language.
Q6: What was the primary advantage sapiens had over other species like Neanderthals?
A6: Sapiens’ primary advantage was their effective communication strategies and ability to form larger, cooperative groups through shared myths or imagined realities. This allowed them to overwhelm other species with superior numbers and strategy.
Q7: How did imagined realities affect sapiens’ tools and their use?
A7: Imagined realities enabled sapiens to work together in larger numbers, which amplified the effectiveness of tools. While there’s little biological difference between humans today and humans 30,000 years ago, the shift in cooperation scale, due to imagined realities, led to significant advances in tools, from simple sticks to intercontinental nuclear missiles.
