Since the 1980s consensus opinion is that the mind is like a collection of specialised modules each tasked for a specific purpose. The author seeks to elucidate and account for this theory and explain what it means to be human in this context.
Along with the concepts of consciousness and intelligence, our capacity for language sits right at the core of what makes us human. But while the evolutionary origins of language have provoked speculation and impassioned debate, music has been neglected if not ignored. Like language it is a universal feature of human culture, one that is a permanent fixture in our daily lives. In THE SINGING NEANDERTHALS, Steven Mithen redresses the balance, drawing on a huge range of sources, from neurological case studies through child psychology and the communication systems of non-human primates to the latest paleoarchaeological evidence. The result is a fascinating and provocative work and a succinct riposte to those, like Steven Pinker, who have dismissed music as a functionless and unimportant evolutionary byproduct.
Embarking on a physical and historical journey, the book explores one of Scotland's most significant islands, offering insights into its rich past. The author, known for previous bestselling works, weaves together narratives that illuminate the island's importance and the interplay of culture and history. Readers can expect a blend of engaging storytelling and scholarly research, making it a compelling read for those interested in Scotland's heritage.
A groundbreaking new account of prehistory from one of the most esteemed archaeologists working today
A fantastic voyage through 15,000 years of history that laid the foundations for civilisation as we know it by award-winning science writer Steven Mithen.Twenty thousand years ago Earth was in the midst of an ice age. Then global warming arrived, leading to massive floods, the spread of forests and the retreat of the deserts. By 5,000 BC a radically different human world had appeared. In place of hunters and gatherers there were farmers; in place of transient campsites there were towns. The foundations of our modern world had been laid and nothing that came after - the Industrial Revolution, the atomic age, the internet - have ever matched the significance of those events. AFTER THE ICE tells the story of climate change's impact during this momentous period - one that also saw the colonisation of the Americas and mass extinctions of animals throughout the world. Drawing on the latest cutting- edge research in archaeology, cognitive science, palaeontology, geology and the evolutionary sciences, Steven Mithen creates an evocative, original and remarkably complete picture of minds, cultures, lives and landscapes through 15,000 years of history.
Popis života pravěkých lidí zrekonstruovaný na základě archeologických nálezů. Předchůdci dnešního člověka ve střední a mladší době kamenné.
Le origini della musica, del linguaggio, della mente e del corpo
La storia evolutiva dell’uomo si arricchisce, con Il canto degli antenati, di un nuovo e importante contributo. L’archeologo britannico Steven Mithen parte da un assunto: la propensione a fare musica è uno dei più misteriosi, affascinanti e allo stesso tempo trascurati tratti distintivi del genere umano. La letteratura scientifica ha infatti storicamente sottovalutato questo campo di studio, definendo la musica non come un adattamento selettivo, ma come una “tecnologia”, un prodotto creato unicamente a scopo ludico e ricreazionale. Mithen sostiene invece che lo studio dell’origine del linguaggio, e più in generale dell’abilità comunicativa dei nostri antenati dovrebbe essere rivalutato alla luce dell’aspetto musicale, che a sua volta non può prescindere dall’evoluzione del corpo e della mente umana. Ecco allora definito l’ambizioso progetto di Mithen: tracciare un affresco completo, a cavallo tra archeologia, paleontologia, neurologia e genetica, che spieghi come e perché gli esseri umani pensano, parlano e creano musica. Se tutto questo può sembrare accademico… bene, non lo è, perché Mithen riesce a trasferire nella pagina scritta la sua curiosità onnivora e coinvolgente, che taglia trasversalmente l’ambito specialistico per arrivare a citare non solo Steven Pinker, ma anche Bach e Miles Davis.
