Changes

'''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.  

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  

largely through paleoforensics and evolutionary science. Homo sapiens, our biological species, is generally thought to have emerged  

largely through paleoforensics and evolutionary science. Homo sapiens, our biological species, is generally thought to have emerged  

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  

sudden and one-time event, though anomalies of symbolic engagement are indicated in the archeological record. Just as the  

sudden and one-time event, though anomalies of symbolic engagement are indicated in the archeological record. Just as the  

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  

and gradual if Gans’s version of the originary event were accepted. Gans suggests a "thought experiment" in which a tribe surrounds  

and gradual if Gans’s version of the originary event were accepted. Gans suggests a "thought experiment" in which a tribe surrounds  

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  

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.  

Benson, J., Greaves, W., O’Donnell, M., & Taglialatela, J. (2002). Evidence for symbolic language processing in a bonobo (Pan  

Benson, J., Greaves, W., O’Donnell, M., & Taglialatela, J. (2002). Evidence for symbolic language processing in a bonobo (Pan  

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)  

2. At approximately 62 pages this piece—too large for a journal, too small for a book—is only available online. (back)  

2. At approximately 62 pages this piece—too large for a journal, too small for a book—is only available online. (back)