WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

Adapted from https://sites.google.com/site/highlandhsp3m/unit-1-what-makes-us-human

What does being human mean to you? What distinguishes humans from animals?

Take a moment an think. REALLY think.

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

Anthropologists = Evolution

Psychologists = Cognitive process and personality

Sociologists = Culture

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

Very simply.... Anthropologists ask:

Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going?

Read Wright excerpt

WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?

WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?

Anthropologists use human biological evolution to answer the question of what makes humans different from animals

They use fossils, cultural remains and the study of DNA as evidence supporting the development of humanity.

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

ANTHROPOLOGICAL: HUMAN EVOLUTION

Physical Anthropologists study human biological evolution Palaeontology – study of fossils Archaeology – study of cultural remains -- ?

ANTHROPOLOGICAL: PROOF OF EVOLUTION

Jacques Boucher de Crevecoeur (1788 – 1868) Found stones shaped into tools and weapons Primitive weapons less advanced than what can be

created today Shows evolution

PROOF OF EVOLUTION

Neanderthals Did not evolve tool making Survived for millions of years but eventually died out

ANTHROPOLOGICAL: PROOF OF EVOLUTION

Charles Darwin (1809 -1882) Studied on the Galapagos islands Found that within each group of plant or animal there was variation

Natural Selection: Animals and plants adaptto their environment tosurvive and produce similaroffspring. Survival of theFittest

HUMAN EVOLUTION

It was thought that humans followed the same patterns of evolution.

In 1924 Raymond Dart discovered the fossil of a child in South Africa Australopithecus Africanus

Subsequent discoveries showed an evolutionary pattern

ANTHROPOLOGICAL: PROOF OF EVOLUTION

Human brains got larger Faces got smaller

HUMANS VS PRIMATES

The genetic make up of humans and primates varies by only 1-2 percent

Why are we the dominate species?

HUMANS VS PRIMATES

Features we share: Opposable thumbs 3 dimensional vision (allows us to judge distances) Our children remain dependant for a long time and

require a lot of care to learn and develop

HUMANS VS PRIMATES

Highly developed brain which allows us to learn and think (however the human brain is more developed)

Social (humans more advanced) Can be aggressive and territorial

WHAT MAKES HUMANS HUMAN There are many different opinions as to which

factor is the most important in human evolution Bipedalism – the ability to walk upright over long

distances and perform tasks while standing Ability to communicate complex and abstract ideas

through language It is thought the combination of using tools, hunting

in a group and communicating with language led to the rapid growth of the human brain

Our ability to share/cooperate with others Developed symbols and art

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN - PSYCHOLOGY

1) The Brain2) The Cognitive Process (advanced reasoning,

problem solving, complexity of our thinking)3) Personality

THE BRAIN

The Central Core: All vertebrates Controls basic functions (breathing, eating)

The Cerebrum: Sets us apart from other species. Controls human senses, thoughts, language, memory

THE COGNITIVE PROCESS

How we acquire, store and use knowledge

REASONING

Use information to draw conclusions – uniquely human

Deductive Reasoning (general to specific): Eg. All humans have brains – Sonia is a human –

Therefore Sonia has a brain. Inductive Reasoning (specific to general):

Eg. Most men enjoy sports – I am a man – I enjoy sports

PROBLEM SOLVING

Humans problem solve throughout the day Can use reasoning to help solve problems

1. Identify the problem2. Develop a strategy to solve the problem (trial and

error, hypothesis, rule of thumb, insight)3. Carry out the strategy4. Determine if the strategy worked

COMPLEXITY OF OUR THINKING

Complexity of our thinking Human are able to think about what others are

thinking. Humans are able to think within different time

frames We can remember the past and consider what might

happen in the future.

PERSONALITY

Characteristics and behaviours that make us unique

It is thought that our personality is shaped by our genetics and environment (nature – nurture)

PERSONALITY Animals may appear to have personality traits This may be more the result of instinct and

conditioning

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN: SOCIOLOGY

Sociologists characterize a human as different from animals because of human culture.

Culture: The abilities, ideas and behaviours people have acquired to become members of society

O CanadaHockeyCanadian flag

CULTURE

Symbols Something or someone that represents something

else. Symbols have a particular meaning for people

CULTURE

Human culture (beliefs, ideas, behaviours) is constantly evolving and changing.

It is through interactions in society that culture develops.

To be part of the human culture we need to cooperate, have laws/rules and have a capacity for knowledge (we can learn and teach others)