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In other words, is abstraction, the essence of language, what separates humans from other mammals? And is this somehow related to bipedalism?

2007-02-12 12:23:45 · 3 answers · asked by goblue_1967 2 in Social Science Anthropology

3 answers

Physically the most obviously distinctive feature of humans is bipedalism, but what is truly exceptional is the size of our brains, more than double that of our nearest relatives the chimps and the bonobos. The large brain, and what came with it evolutionarily which is the human capacity to think, to plan, to be creative. Uniquely human skills such as language and acting ability developed from and with our brains.

Abstraction is related to the human capacity for self-awareness, and for fresh choices based on in-the-now discernment as distinct from both learned and instinctive behaviors. Again it is the size and structure of our brains that, physiologically pseaking, makes this possible.

2007-02-12 13:40:28 · answer #1 · answered by MBK 7 · 0 0

Bipedalism is something that I think might have evolved out of a necessity to grab things higher up off the ground, like in trees. With practice, a creature can learn balance by trying to reach for something.

the human psyche evolved through millions of years, and learning new ways to walk can in turn create new ways of thinking.

2007-02-13 05:22:51 · answer #2 · answered by sugarpacketchad 5 · 0 0

I am not so sure we can separate ourselves as humans from the other animals. We share everything we have which is defined by the environment in which we all try to survive. We all drink the same water, breath the same air, and fear the same demise (being eaten). Why do we continue to need to find our human race superior.

2007-02-12 23:58:48 · answer #3 · answered by MT C 6 · 0 0

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