complexity intro
change & stability
prog. complexity
more complexity
homo nobilis
references
discovery story
implications
invitation
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The Advent of Homo nobilis, stellaris (II) |
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There lies a vast gulf in cognitive consciousness between merely using tools, and the making of tools. An ape, even a crow, will pick up a handy nearby stick to get at a banana, or at a juicy insect in its burrow. But to sit down and intentionally shape a stone to an envisioned future purpose is such a large leap in cognitive consciousness that it can only be described (and in full accord with the underlying dynamics) as a quantum leap in cognitive consciousness. |
Consequently, and rightly so, the capability of making tools - and keeping them for envisioned future purposes - marks the true emergence of the first of the Homo line (Homo ergaster - the enterprising human), about 2.5 million years ago, from its Australopithecine antecedents. This vast quantum leap in cognitive consciousness was accompanied by a doubling of the brain size to about 800 ml, as compared to Australopithecine "Lucy's" 400 ml.
This was followed by a long period of gradual improvements and proliferation of the tools of "man the tool-maker", culminating in the exquisitely crafted neolithic blades and burins, with cutting edges so smooth and sharp that they are as yet unmatched by modern blades.
The following is a diagram of the 10 major milestones of human cognitive evolution from the first flint to the acquisition of electrical fire - and to just before the evolutionary quantum leap from homo sapiens, sapiens to Homo nobilis, stellaris. Here too the accelerating pace is clearly apparent.
The Major Milestones of Human Cognitive Evolution
1) The making of tools
as opposed to the simple use of tools, and as discussed above.
2) The domestication of organic fire
by Homo heidelbergensis, about 1/2 million years ago. This advent is deeply significant. All animals are instinctually terrified by fire. So were the ancestors of our kind. To not only overcome this innate terror of fire, but to domesticate it, is indisputable evidence of the evolution of reason, and of logic. Only reason can overcome the deeply innate terror of fire, and only a careful logic can domesticate it. Of course, the acquisition and domestication of fire has profoundly affected the course of the evolution of our kind. For one, it allowed Homo heidelbergensis to expand into the temperate regions of the old world, where survival over the cold winter was made possible only by the maintenance of domestic fire, along with such preserved foods as smoked meat and fish.
Here, we mark the sudden evolutionary advent of Homo sapiens, sapiens, accompanied by a large increase of brain size to about
1400 cc, and a rapid proliferation of milestones in cognitive evolution. |
3) The invention of math
Math was invented, about 40.000 years ago, by the females of Homo sapiens, sapiens out of two necessities; of calculating and being prepared for their menstrual cycles and, as the principal gatherers of edibles, for the vital necessity of correctly estimating the times of maturity and harvestability of fruit, nuts, berries, greens and tubers. Their survival dependent on this. Although it consisted only of simple counting at that time, it nevertheless laid the foundation for all of our math.
And while some of our simian relatives have an awareness of lesser or greater quantity, the capability of counting is forever beyond them. Even among the most primitive surviving tribes of our kind, and although they are fully capable of being taught, the native extent of counting consists of one, two and many. Thus, the ability to track menstrual and seasonal cycles by their numbers marks the advent of a new and far higher level of cognitive consciousness.
4) The advent of cave art
in the form of sophisticated paintings and engravings - and the first primitive precursors to writing in the form of symbolic figures and signs - about 32.000 years ago. This evolutionary milestone marks the advent of nothing less than abstract thought - the newly evolved capacity to convey and derive meaning via symbols, and most importantly, in the absence of the physical presence of the object depicted.
Since only great importance can justify the considerable time, effort and expenditure of resources demanded by these deeply hidden cave paintings and engravings - light alone consumed considerable valuable resources - we can safely conclude that cave art occupied a central and powerful mythological position in the lives of these people of our own kind. Consequently, it is clear that H. sapiens, sapiens had evolved to a level of consciousness which placed H. sapiens, sapiens into a transcendental context and hierarchy of higher powers. H. sapiens, sapiens had become conscious of the realm of 'spirit'.
5) The invention of agriculture
and shortly thereafter, of animal husbandry, about 11.000 years ago. This is another major milestone in cognitive evolution since it required several totally new concepts. The recognition of seeds and their function; the saving of seeds (food) for seeding in the next growing season; of nursing and tending plants to maturity in anticipation of a future harvest; and most importantly, of dedicating present activities to a distant and uncertain future.
The invention of agriculture also resulted in the profound change from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled communities, land ownership, the advent of villages, specialization into trades, seed and surplus storage and management, record keeping, village elders, and unavoidably perhaps, the advent of municipal politics. With the invention of agriculture, H. sapiens, sapiens had laid the foundation for our modern civilizations.
6) The invention of metallurgy
about 8.000 years ago, by the people of the lower Danube. H. sapiens, sapiens had begun to be aware of and employ the laws of nature as embodied in chemistry. It also gave humankind its first and far superior metal tools and implements, and laid the foundation for the technologies of our kind.
7) The invention of the wheel
about 5.500 years ago in Mesopotamia, shortly after the invention of the pottery wheel. It was the beginning of land transportation technology, of roads, and thus, of much of our modern technology and civilisation. Far more importantly though, Homo sapiens, sapiens had begun to be aware of, and use, the 'laws of nature'. Besides laying the foundation for the extraction of energy from natural forces (waterwheel, windmill, hydro-electric power), it also laid the foundation for Homo nobilis, stellaris - since 'the laws of nature' are also the laws of the universe.
8) The invention of writing
- H. sapiens, sapiens' first cognitive tool - about 5.000 years ago, also by the Sumarians of Mesopotamia. It marks our kind's full entry into the abstract domain of symbols, and the capacity to convey meaning and information via symbols. Many would argue that this is not an evolutionary, but a learned phenomenon. This is not so. Even our 1-1/2 year-olds innately recognize and attach meaning to pictures. It is in our genes. Writing would provide the foundation of all of the history, math, science, monetary systems, literary arts, teaching and mass-communication of our civilisations.
9) The acquisition of chemical fire
in the form of fire-crackers, about 1.000 years ago, in China. This marks the entry of H. sapiens, sapiens into the domain of chemical fire and added another kind of fire (gunpowder, TNT, gasoline, acetylene, rocket fuel, matches, etc.) to humankind's growing repertoire of fires. Most of today's technology rests on our capability to make and harness chemical fire.
10) The harnessing and use of electrical fire
about 130 years ago. Although the nature of electricity was described in a research paper by William Gilbert in the year 1600, and many ground-breaking discoveries followed over the next two hundred years, we shall take the first practical application of electricity - in telegraphy in the year 1837 following Morse and Wheatstone's discoveries - as the beginning of the electrical age. H. sapiens, sapiens had added yet another 'fire', or source of energy, to his repertoire of domesticated fires.
This concludes this overview of the major archaic and historic milestones of the cognitive evolution of the Homo line up to the end of the 20th century. Here too the acceleration in the advent of evolutionary milestones is clearly obvious. About 2 million years passed between the first and second milestones - the first chipped stone and the domestication of organic fire - of the cognitive evolution of the Homo line. And only about 900 years intervened between the acquisition of chemical and electrical fire - the ninth and tenth milestones of the cognitive evolution of our kind.
And then, and in our time, came the "great explosion" - seven milestones of cognitive evolution within the space of 64 years - which is next.
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