define the origins of written language. Of course, forms of systematic writing developed concurrently across the globe, in addition to inter-region differentiation in written communication. Furthermore, the common use of pictograms in the earliest forms of writing present an additional challenge: requiring archaeologists to establish a fundamental difference between the representations of culture in artwork, and similar information denoted in a formal writing system. The discussion in class did not broach this conundrum, and neither did the textbook, yet I found the lack of specificity puzzling. Are cave paintings not a pictographic representation of hunting ritual and cultural practices? Regardless, archaeologists have worked…
Charles Darwin is commonly misattributed with developing the entire theory of natural selection, which he describes in his work The Origin of Species. However, Darwin was not the first scientist to take note of phenomena regarding species self-improvement nor did he even coin the term “natural selection”. Instead, Darwin was simply the first to provide accurate, natural world justifications for why species’ self-improvement occurred and, moreover, was the first to leave divine influence out of…
Different interpretations’ of facts, theories, and beliefs between people automatically generates controversy. People believe their facts are correct so they attempt to “correct” others’ facts and beliefs. The conflict between nature and language was one of many issues that created a huge controversy between science and humanistic beliefs. What actually caused the issues between these beliefs is the misinterpretation of facts of the natural world and humanities utilization of language. Humanity…
to our ancestors, we allow our intellect to select the partner, place and type of gratification, and time. To be only uninhibited is beneath what a human is or should be. The Origin of Species Varying ideas have long been speculated from origins within the church and creationism to that of modern science. Ideas about the transformation of said species were highly debated and caused deep conflict with the current beliefs that species were invariable parts of a designed pecking order and that…
and politics, forming social Darwinism. Darwin’s evolutionary theory presented in The Origin of Species was manipulated and applied to human society to justify imperialism and racism. An organism’s struggle for existence explains why some species’ characteristics…
Charles Darwin didn't want to publish his book at first, because of the society he lived in, but he eventually did publish his book because he had significant information he wanted to share. Although Darwin is called the "Father of evolution," he never really wanted to be a leader. He was a passionate naturalist who spent years in research that led to the controversial Theory of Natural Selection. Reluctant to publish his theory, it took more than 20 years and support from fellow scientists for…
According to Lucretius in On The Nature Of Things, the power of nature and science relied on arbitrary mixtures and “indestructible particles” to create life and earthly systems in an limitless world. On the contrary, Darwin explores a variety of topics that portray life as being dependent on gradual changes, variations, competition, deity beliefs, morals, and natural selection. He asserts, “Natural selection, as we shall hereafter see, is a power incessantly ready for action” (Darwin page 108).…
traits and cultural traits are key in this long-term evolution. Generic traits are physically transmitted to offspring. For example, fish’s eyes are different from humans’ in order to fit underwater environment. Cultural traits could be knowledge and skills. For instance, humans teach languages to their children to be able to communicate. The article by Raymond Hames (2015) explains that human behaviors are diverse in order to maximize individual’s fitness through either culturally or…
components that are either useless or do not serve the same use as they once did. Vestigial structures do not have to be nonfunctional in order to be considered vestigial; they may “retain lesser functions or develop minor new ones, but nevertheless be in a degenerated state” (Evidence of Evolution). Whales and other cetaceans “still possess a vestigial pelvis, and some have greatly reduced and nonfunctional hindlimbs” (Sutera). A transitional fossil must also be located at the right point in…
are high and vaulted – a higher forehead than the H. erectus, which provides a large cranial capacity. The skull is also rounded in the back and eye sockets are square rather than rounded. Interestingly; humans are the only species with a protruding chin. Humans have smaller teeth and do not have the pragmatism and heavy brow ridges of earlier humans. H. sapiens also has a lighter build of the skeleton compared to earlier humans. H. sapiens are bipedal like earlier humans, however the legs of H.…