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http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/mortalknowledge.htm

http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/mortalknowledge.htm

Greg Nixon  

Greg Nixon , University of Northern British Columbia  

University of Northern British Columbia  

   

   

Prince George Canada docnixon@shaw.ca  

Prince George Canada

docnixon@shaw.ca  

Origins  

'''Origins'''

The question of origins continues to captivate human thought and sentiment, despite the postmodern insistence that knowledge of origins is impossible since it must lie beyond the boundaries of the origin of knowledge. Knowledge cannot seek causes that precede its own existence, it is said. Still, theoretical narratives continue to arise, accounting for such things as the origin of the universe, of our star and solar system, of Earth, of life on the planet, of the human species, of self-aware human cultures, and so on down into the origins of the local and particular. This should not be surprising; we sense that knowing our origins will tell us who we are.  

The question of origins continues to captivate human thought and sentiment, despite the postmodern insistence that knowledge of origins is impossible since it must lie beyond the boundaries of the origin of knowledge. Knowledge cannot seek causes that precede its own existence, it is said. Still, theoretical narratives continue to arise, accounting for such things as the origin of the universe, of our star and solar system, of Earth, of life on the planet, of the human species, of self-aware human cultures, and so on down into the origins of the local and particular. This should not be surprising; we sense that knowing our origins will tell us who we are.  

Postmodern prohibitions certainly have had no effect on the empirical findings of such objective fields as paleoanthropology or paleoarcheology. The trouble here is that although such objective fieldwork provides significant data, it is only in the interpretation of such data that an idea of early human experience can emerge. Interpretation inevitably brings in subjective factors and we  

Postmodern prohibitions certainly have had no effect on the empirical findings of such objective fields as paleoanthropology or paleoarcheology. The trouble here is that although such objective fieldwork provides significant data, it is only in the interpretation of such data that an idea of early human experience can emerge. Interpretation inevitably brings in subjective factors and we  

necessarily find ourselves creating scenarios and looking inward into the contexts of the human heart to speculate on the prehistoric moment when imagination, conceptual thought, and abstract knowledge became possible. In other words, using the tools of our objective sciences, we create narratives of origin that attempt to exceed their own limitations by blending the objective with the subjective. Generative anthropology embraces such subjectivity and tends not to avail itself of such empirical data. It is instead an outstanding example of what might be seen as a more literary or even intuitional approach.  

necessarily find ourselves creating scenarios and looking inward into the contexts of the human heart to speculate on the prehistoric moment when imagination, conceptual thought, and abstract knowledge became possible. In other words, using the tools of our objective sciences, we create narratives of origin that attempt to exceed their own limitations by blending the objective with the subjective. Generative anthropology embraces such subjectivity and tends not to avail itself of such empirical data. It is instead an outstanding example of what might be seen as a more literary or even intuitional approach.  

womb of nature, though it could never become entirely distinct. With this I profoundly agree, but there are still devils to be found in the details.  

womb of nature, though it could never become entirely distinct. With this I profoundly agree, but there are still devils to be found in the details.  

Our Emergent Species  

'''Our Emergent Species'''

To begin this abbreviated quest, we must first identify that for which we seek origins. The origin of the human body has been traced  

To begin this abbreviated quest, we must first identify that for which we seek origins. The origin of the human body has been traced  

areas and that the fallen larynx served other purposes than speech, for example, the breath control required of rhythmic sound-  

areas and that the fallen larynx served other purposes than speech, for example, the breath control required of rhythmic sound-  

making or even the increasing demands of non-syntactic protolanguage.(5) Later when the symbolic threshold (Percy, 1975;  

making or even the increasing demands of non-syntactic protolanguage.(5) Later when the symbolic threshold (Percy, 1975;  

Deacon, 1997) is crossed, the first function of these and other biological adaptations or mutations could have been exapted(6) to  

Deacon, 1997) is crossed, the first function of these and other biological adaptations or mutations could have been exapted(6) to  

meet the demands of newly discovered formal language. Did the advent of formal language result from a later cerebral mutation,  

meet the demands of newly discovered formal language. Did the advent of formal language result from a later cerebral mutation,  

symbolicus in his 1925 dissertation, the Latin term probably most appropriate for the species we have become.  

symbolicus in his 1925 dissertation, the Latin term probably most appropriate for the species we have become.  

The Timeline of Emergence  

'''The Timeline of Emergence'''

Gans shows bold insight in noting that this change could not have resulted from gradual changes, evolutionary or otherwise. It was a  

Gans shows bold insight in noting that this change could not have resulted from gradual changes, evolutionary or otherwise. It was a  

aesthetics alone would lead GA to identifying the originary event with the late appearance of this new kind of being on Earth.  

aesthetics alone would lead GA to identifying the originary event with the late appearance of this new kind of being on Earth.  

Language and Representation  

'''Language and Representation'''

Tattersall is also in agreement with Gans that this change was not gradual. However, there is no reason it could not be piecemeal  

Tattersall is also in agreement with Gans that this change was not gradual. However, there is no reason it could not be piecemeal  

as the next section elaborates.  

as the next section elaborates.  

The Originary Moment

'''The Originary Moment'''

   

   

To discover a mythic cosmos and tell its story meant that the syntactic undercarriage already had to be present as a complete  

To discover a mythic cosmos and tell its story meant that the syntactic undercarriage already had to be present as a complete  

syntactic structures to meet an overwhelming semantic emergency.  

syntactic structures to meet an overwhelming semantic emergency.  

The Existential Crisis

'''The Existential Crisis'''

   

   

The first speakers, I have suggested, could only have spoken a meaningful word or made a meaningful sign in the context of a  

The first speakers, I have suggested, could only have spoken a meaningful word or made a meaningful sign in the context of a  

As the ultimate origin of language, religion, art, ethics, and all higher cognition, it seems to be true after all that, as Wallace Stevens  

As the ultimate origin of language, religion, art, ethics, and all higher cognition, it seems to be true after all that, as Wallace Stevens  

(1923/54) famously wrote in "Sunday Morning":  

(1923/54) famously wrote in "Sunday Morning":  

Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her,  

Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her,  

Alone, shall come fulfilment to our dreams  

Alone, shall come fulfilment to our dreams  

And our desires. (V: 3-5)  

And our desires. (V: 3-5)  

In Conclusion  

'''In Conclusion'''

Again, this is not an attempt to claim that generative anthropology’s originary hypothesis is wrong and mine is right. Indeed, it is  

Again, this is not an attempt to claim that generative anthropology’s originary hypothesis is wrong and mine is right. Indeed, it is  

nightmare: the vast, cold expanse of objective materiality.  

nightmare: the vast, cold expanse of objective materiality.  

   

   

References  

'''References'''

Becker, E. (1973). The Denial of Death. New York: The Free Press.  

Becker, E. (1973). The Denial of Death. New York: The Free Press.  

Wikipedia (accessed 2006). Mitochondrial Eve. Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve  

Wikipedia (accessed 2006). Mitochondrial Eve. Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve  

Notes  

'''Notes'''

1. An experiential reversion or return to the source via present likeness or replication (back)  

1. An experiential reversion or return to the source via present likeness or replication (back)  

19. This is not far-fetched as cases of second generation pidgen speakers suddenly speaking in the formal structures of creole  

19. This is not far-fetched as cases of second generation pidgen speakers suddenly speaking in the formal structures of creole  

indicate (see Bickerton, 1983). (back)  

indicate (see Bickerton, 1983). (back)  

20. The implied meaning of my book title, The Coil of Time and the Recoil of Memory (1995). (back)  

20. The implied meaning of my book title, The Coil of Time and the Recoil of Memory (1995). (back)

ISSN 1083-7264  

ISSN 1083-7264  

http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/

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