Science a GoGo's Home Page Forums General Discussion General Science Discussion Forum Nova Science Now: What makes us human?

PBS just started a new series with David Pogue. This looks like it is going to be a rather interesting series on where we came from. The first episode seems to be mostly about how language came about. Some people think that the ability to make stone tools was one of the first steps towards language as we know it. It seems that people use the same part of the brain (Broca's region) for both language and stone tool making.

David also had himself made up as a Neanderthal and wandered around New York for a while. Nobody paid much attention to him, but then in New York they are used to seeing strange things. The did a pretty good job on the make up, except they left him with a chin. Neanderthals didn't have chins. I expect they would have had a problem chopping his off.

In the US the episode will repeat several times over the next week if you want to watch it.

Bill Gill

Ok, here is a discussion of the Nova Science Now story on John Hawks Weblog. He live blogged while he was watching it. He was pretty happy with the over all show, though he had a few minor problems.

Bill Gill

The answer I would give to that particular question is--- that whatever makes a human a human as opposed to a giraffe, is the same mechanism that makes a giraffe a giraffe!

We are all animals whether we like it or not; but we are a collection of different species. We humans carry the evidence of our origin and our species abound in our genes, and the more we find out the more we find we all share!

What is difficult to believe about some of us having the traces of other humanoids in our make-up--- not just Neanderthals but also, now discovered, Devonians? (spelling?) Should this upset us? Or should it instead allow us to appreciate that we humans are not all there is to consider when discussing the future direction of our seemingly unstoppable population?

We learned to chip rocks and used them to hunt, so we stockpiled food and learned to plant crops for the future. Birds and ants do that too. Whales have a communicative language of song--- We are not so unique after all!

Maybe our humanity is what allows us to show concern for the consequences of our actions and demonstrate care and compassion. Maybe "being human" as a behaviourial determinant established by our genetic makeup.

From what I have been reading it seems that one thing that sets us apart from our closest relatives, other than the size of our brains, is that we have compassion for other people. The apes don't seem to show that kind of activity. They have very complex social interactions, but when it comes right down to the nitty gritty they are basically each one or themselves. They cooperate, to get things for themselves, but not necessarily to help others. It is postulated that this willingness to help out others is a major part of what makes us human.

Bill Gill

I agree Bill.

So is that altruism learned or innate in our genetic make-up?

Back to nature or nurture!

Altruism seems to be a part of our genetic make up. It is variable in its expression but overall we do cooperate for the good of all a whole lot more than any other primate.