How Language Transformed Humanity Flashcards
What is language? Why is it so powerful?
Verse is power.
What is the Tower of Babel story a good fable or warning of?
Power of language.
Chimpanzees lack
Social learning. Unable to improve themselves on others’ learning.
What is social learning and why is it important?
Learning from others
Ability to learn from mistakes.
Who is Homo erectus?
Our ancestors from 2 million years ago.
Did Neanderthals have social learning? What is the evidence (or lack thereof) for this?
No, very little change. No innovation. Tool tech did not improve.
How are humans (Homo sapiens) different than other animals, including our ancestors?
Our social learning is unmatched.
We have ability to choose the best ideas. Share, copy, etc.
What is cumulative cultural adaption according to Pagel?
Cumulative of ideas lead to innovation.
Benefit from others’ knowledge / Visual theft
Why is 200,000 years ago important (according to Pagel)?
Live in small groups –> Still be the same
System of communication –> Faster accumulation of knowledge (2ND OPTION)
It gave us two options. Determined how we are today.
Started a dilemma, beginning of story, confronted crisis of individuals stealing.
What are the different options that Pagel proposes we could have done 200,000 years ago?
Language is the result of the 2nd option
Allows us to put ideas together and prosper.
What does language do? 2… (P)
- Convey content
2. Negotiate a relationship type
What are the three major human relationship types across the world’s cultures? (P)
Dominance hierarchy
Communality sharing
Reciprocity exchange
What is the difference between mutual knowledge and individual knowledge? (P)
Mutual = Everyone knows everyone knows same thing.
Individual knowledge = You know but you don’t know if someone else knows the same thing.
Why is this difference so important? (Mutual v. Individual) (P)
Provides collective power.
What does explicit language create? (P)
Creates mutual knowledge
