1. Later Evolution and Story-Telling: The Cognitive Revolution
Dakota Shaffett

2. In this lecture: Early sapiens history Cognitive revolution
Shared fiction

3. Divide between Modern and Ancient Sapien
The sapiens of 150,000 years ago looked like us and had similarly-sized brains yet thought in a completely different manner.
Had no advantage over other human species.
Support: Neanderthals and the Levant

4. Cognitive Revolution 70,000 years ago marks a turning point.
Wiped out the Neanderthals
Sapiens reach Europe, East Asia, Australia

5. Cognitive Revolution (Cont.)
Evidence of first instances of art
Period of invention
Evidence for religion, commerce, and hierarchical social structures

6. Cognitive Revolution (cont.)
Researchers think that the disconnect between ancient and modern sapiens was bridged in this period- a 'Cognitive Revolution' brought on by a random biological mutation.
Humanity, in sapiens, develops a new type of language.

7. Pioneers of Language What was special about this language?
Harari claims that every animal has some form of language.
Is there value to that?
Parrots have a more impressive verbal range.

8. New Language Advantages
One theory: The new language of the sapiens is supple.
It is flexible and specific, promoting active planning and measured reactions.
“Danger! Lion!” vs. “Lion by the river chasing buffalo”
Gossip theory: new language can be human- focused.
Humans are extremely social animals
Language can help us not only share immediate, goal-focused information, but inform the individual of the nuances of social relationships between members.

9. Gossip Theory (cont.)
Under gossip theory, new language allows much larger social networks- individuals gossip more often, including about beneficial information and matters of trustworthiness, reducing the risk of allowing a new member prospect.
Vast majority of human interaction is gossip.
Protects against cheats and freeloaders.

10. Abstract Communication
Cognitive Revolution led to speech about things that aren't really there- not only hypothetical figures ('a buffalo might potentially come through here'), but fictional figures in general ('a buffalo god is watching over us').
Enables collective fiction. Legend, myth, religion.
Allows cooperation with larger groups.

11. Abstract Communication (cont.)
Makes bigger group sizes feasible.
To function, all members of a group know each other.
Natural limit of group size dependent on gossip is roughly 150 people.
Gossip alone insufficient beyond this critical threshold.
Large numbers of people cooperate by believing in common myths.

12. What are some of these common myths?
Any large-scale human organization depends on common myths.
What are some of these common myths?

13. https://youtu.be/DBnENlXt-H4?t=113

14. Common Myth Fiat Currency Deities States
Corporations (Dubbed 'legal fiction')
Law
Universal Niceties; Justice, Karma, Human Rights

15. Fictions, a. k. a. Social Constructs a. k. a
Fictions, a.k.a. Social Constructs a.k.a. Imagined Realities: things created which exist only as patterns of thought.
Cooperation can be altered by changing the myths, and this can happen rapidly as needed (French revolution: From divine right of king to right of sovereignity). Causes rapid cultural development, outpacing biological evolution.

16. With these mechanisms, Sapiens could transform social structures, the nature of their interpersonal relations, economic action, and more within a decade or two.
This rapid adaptability and ability to form larger groups secured victory against neanderthal kind. Despite potential individual physical superiority

17. Trade from Cognitive Revolution
Proof of trade
30,000 y.o. Campsites show signs of trade- Mediterranean and Atlantic seashells found in European heartland. Likely came from sapien trading.
Neanderthals show no signs of trade
Sapiens in New Ireland used volcanic glass from New Britain, 248 miles away.
Trade from trust, trust from appeal to shared fictions (gods, values).
Goods trading means information trading was possible.

18. Resources and Cognitive Revolution
Sapiens communication meant that they could hunt more effectively in greater groups than neanderthals.
Neanderthals hunted alone or in small groups.
Sapiens could coordinate several groups in order to herd animals for easy mass killings.

19. History and Biology
As multiple shared fictions became generated, they began to form cultures.
Cultures: diverse patterns of imagined realities and subsequent diverse patterns of behavior.
Cultures never stop changing and developing, and these changes are called history.
Cognitive Revolution becomes the point where human history is considered to no longer be solely the product of biology.