About the book
A new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the role of information sharing across generations.
Over the last three million years or so, our lineage has diverged sharply from those of our great ape relatives. Change has been rapid (in evolutionary terms) and pervasive. Morphology, life history, social life, sexual behavior, and foraging patterns have all shifted sharply away from those of the other great apes. In The Evolved Apprentice, Kim Sterelny argues that the divergence stems from the fact that humans gradually came to enrich the learning environment of the next generation. Humans came to cooperate in sharing information, and to cooperate ecologically and reproductively as well, and these changes initiated positive feedback loops that drove us further from other great apes.
Sterelny develops a new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the gradual evolution of information-sharing practices across generations and how these practices transformed human minds and social lives. Sterelny proposes that humans developed a new form of ecological interaction with their environment, cooperative foraging. The ability to cope with the immense variety of human ancestral environments and social forms, he argues, depended not just on adapted minds but also on adapted developmental environments.
Editions of The Evolved Apprentice
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262016797
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262526661
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262300490
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262302036
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262302814
Read an Excerpt
A new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the role of information sharing across generations.
Over the last three million years or so, our lineage has diverged sharply from those of our great ape relatives. Change has been rapid (in evolutionary terms) and pervasive. Morphology, life history, social life, sexual behavior, and foraging patterns have all shifted sharply away from those of the other great apes. In The Evolved Apprentice, Kim Sterelny argues that the divergence stems from the fact that humans gradually came to enrich the learning environment of the next generation. Humans came to cooperate in sharing information, and to cooperate ecologically and reproductively as well, and these changes initiated positive feedback loops that drove us further from other great apes.
Sterelny develops a new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the gradual evolution of information-sharing practices across generations and how these practices transformed human minds and social lives. Sterelny proposes that humans developed a new form of ecological interaction with their environment, cooperative foraging. The ability to cope with the immense variety of human ancestral environments and social forms, he argues, depended not just on adapted minds but also on adapted developmental environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Evolved Apprentice about?
A new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the role of information sharing across generations.
Over the last three million years or so, our lineage has diverged sharply from those of our great ape relatives. Change has been rapid (in evolutionary terms) and pervasive. Morphology, life history, social life, sexual behavior, and foraging patterns have all shifted sharply away from those of the other great apes. In The Evolved Apprentice, Kim Sterelny argues that the divergence stems from the fact that humans gradually came to enrich the learning environment of the next generation. Humans came to cooperate in sharing information, and to cooperate ecologically and reproductively as well, and these changes initiated positive feedback loops that drove us further from other great apes.
Sterelny develops a new theory of the evolution of human cognition and human social life that emphasizes the gradual evolution of information-sharing practices across generations and how these practices transformed human minds and social lives. Sterelny proposes that humans developed a new form of ecological interaction with their environment, cooperative foraging. The ability to cope with the immense variety of human ancestral environments and social forms, he argues, depended not just on adapted minds but also on adapted developmental environments.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Evolved Apprentice?
Mathematics and Science > Biology, life sciences > Life sciences: general issues > Evolution / Evolutionary biology
Where can I read a sample of The Evolved Apprentice?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262016797
Is The Evolved Apprentice part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Jean Nicod Lectures
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Evolved Apprentice?
Kim Sterelny
Who is the Publisher of the book The Evolved Apprentice?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Evolved Apprentice is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262016797) and paperback(ISBN 9780262526661) and ebook(ISBN 9780262300490) and ebook(ISBN 9780262302036) and ebook(ISBN 9780262302814)
Where can I buy The Evolved Apprentice online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Evolved Apprentice from below
Where can I buy The Evolved Apprentice?