Science is universal - James Poskett

[write4u]

@write4u

The latest findings could tell a similar story, if earlier remains in North Africa are not found. But they would imply that humans were moving west, as well as east, from their birthplace.

IMO, most maps of African migration sketch a path through central Africa, but I believe there were two coastal paths along the east and west coasts of Africa.
One of the most advanced early habitats were found at the Southern tip of Africa in the coastal caves was Blombos Cave.
Delicate tools for opening shellfish and burned shells indicate a fishing industry and mastery of fire. In addition, ritual ochre was also found indicating spiritual ceremonies.

These finds includes the discovery of the world’s oldest drawing, engravings and shell beads. BLOMBOS CAVE: Blombos Cave is known as the cradle of human culture. Important finds include engraved ochre, shell beads and the world’s earliest human drawing. Nov 12, 2020

Blombos Cave

It would be reasonable to assume that the coast was followed on a trek North.
The path can be retraced, the ocean provided a ready source of food and the coast offers reasonable safety from large predators, all desirable circumstances for a traveling tribe.

Along the African west-coast the path would lead into a still attached Spain and Europe.

Along the east coast of Africa, the path would naturally lead along the coast of India and very benign living environments, eventually ending up in the Far East.

Note that might also explain the relatively early settlement in Australia via a still attached Indonesian peninsula.

[thatoneguy]

@lausten

Interesting article. It has overlap with Science of Religion course I have linked. Most of it talks about very long term changes, but science is only a few hundred or maybe a few thousand years old. Also, the periods he discusses were times of low communication across tribes, whereas now we communicate globally.

“If your number of minds working on the problem gets small enough, you can actually begin to lose information. There’s a steady state level of information that depends on the size of your population and the interconnectedness. It also depends on the innovativeness of your individuals, but that has a relatively small effect compared to the effect of being well interconnected and having a large population.”

I don’t think the culture of science has had a chance to affect biology in the way this guy is talking. Not yet. Not the way the culture of fire making affected us. I’m not sure what aspects of cultures you are claiming exist where. The evidence is still clear, that Science developed around the globe, before hitting its full stride in the mixed cultures of Europe in the 15th century, or thereabouts.

Yes, science has not changed our biology which is a big reason why science always struggles against religious belief. One is part of human nature and one isn’t.

[thatoneguy]

@morgankane01

@thatoneguy

The open culture of Western academia is the result of European DNA. Especially Northern Europeans, which is just the old-fashioned term for the W.E.I.R.D. population. Replace them with anyone else and that culture disappears.

That seems strange and counter intuitive to me. I would think that the geographical and historical conditions did much. And from what I know, European civilisation results from a serie of very uncertain events.

Yes, but these things all shaped the genome that produces this particular culture.

[write4u]

@thatoneguy

Yes, but these things all shaped the genome that produces this particular culture.

True, every environment presents its own survival challenges and natural selection will select for the best survival techniques for that environment.

This does not affect intellect, it affects the specialization of the intellect.

A city dweller will not survive 10 days in the desert, a desert dweller will not survive 10 days in a tropical jungle. Very few people manage to survive the polar climates.

City dwellers will not survive any of these environments, because they are the least adapted to climatic extremes.

Each intellect adjusts and refines its knowledge and comfort in its environment. There are many animals that far excel humans in specific intellectual survival
skills and abilities. Humans excel in tool making (artificial copies of natural animal skills) to help them cope with the environment.