The question of human dominance over the planet has long intrigued scientists and philosophers alike. Recently, Thomas Morgan, an evolutionary anthropologist at Arizona State University, proposed a fascinating hypothesis to explain why humans rule the world. His theory challenges the traditional notion that mere knowledge accumulation sets our species apart.
While many species share cultural traits, human culture stands out for its unparalleled adaptability and power. Morgan suggests that our species’ distinctive feature is openness – the ability to envision and plan a vast array of possibilities in our actions. This capacity allows humans to :
- Imagine complex, nested steps to achieve a final goal
- Adapt and refine these steps as needed
- Combine existing knowledge in novel ways
- Create entirely new concepts and innovations
This openness enables humans to invent, improvise, and create unprecedented things continuously. For instance, when preparing breakfast, a parent must :
- Gather necessary utensils
- Measure and mix ingredients in a specific order
- Cook while monitoring temperature and texture
- Adjust the cooking process to match children’s preferences
Each step requires adjustments and sometimes experimentation to achieve the desired result. This type of reasoning in ordered, adjustable sequences demands great intellectual flexibility, setting humans apart from other species.
Cultural accumulation : pushing boundaries beyond limits
Human culture is distinguished by its almost unlimited potential for accumulation. While animal cultures may show examples of cultural accumulation, they often stagnate. Chimpanzees’ tool use, though impressive, remains relatively unchanged across generations. Humpback whales may enrich their songs, but they don’t introduce radical musical evolutions from one generation to the next.
In contrast, human culture can not only evolve but also enrich itself indefinitely. We can rethink, adapt, and combine old knowledge to create new insights. Our ancestors invented the wheel, which we’ve optimized to create modern vehicles. From mastering fire, we’ve progressed to electricity, microwaves, and renewable energies. Has human evolution stopped ? Far from it – we’ve built civilizations by continually building upon accumulated knowledge.
This open-ended imagination allows humans to constantly push boundaries, while animal cultures often hit evolutionary ceilings. Human culture enriches itself perpetually, creating a virtuous circle where each generation can go further than the previous one.
Shared culture : a common thread with the animal world
For a long time, scientists believed that the ability to transmit knowledge was unique to humans. However, research on animal behavior shows that other species also possess this skill. For example :
| Species | Cultural Behavior |
|---|---|
| Chimpanzees | Learn to use tools for termite fishing from parents |
| Humpback whales | Songs evolve and spread between groups |
| Leaf-cutter ants | Cultivate and transmit fungus gardens across generations |
The leaf-cutter ant example is particularly fascinating. These ants don’t directly eat the leaves they harvest. Instead, they use them to feed a fungus cultivated in their underground galleries. This fungus garden produces nutrients that the ants consume. When a new queen leaves to start a colony, she carries a piece of this fungus, often in a special pouch in her mouth or mandibles, to start the culture in the new colony.
Implications for human understanding and future development
This new hypothesis on human cultural openness sheds light on our understanding of human nature. It highlights our species’ uniqueness in not only transmitting and modifying behaviors but also imagining novel scenarios and constantly expanding the realm of possibilities. This capacity could explain why humans have built civilizations, invented languages, religions, and even sciences.
Naturally, this openness seems directly linked to the size and complexity of our brain. Researchers agree that the human brain, particularly our prefrontal cortex (the area managing planning, decision-making, and complex reasoning), plays a key role in our ability to think in terms of nested steps and long-term goals.
Understanding this human specificity could deepen our comprehension of cultural evolution and raise essential questions about our future. How will our culture continue to evolve with the advent of artificial intelligence, robotics, and new technologies ? This hypothesis on our capacity for openness could also inspire research to understand how to create systems that mimic human adaptability.
As we explore the depths of human cultural evolution, we might also ponder when humans first started wearing clothes – another unique cultural adaptation that sets us apart from our animal counterparts. The journey of human dominance over the world continues to unfold, driven by our unparalleled ability to imagine, create, and adapt.
