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− | http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/mortalknowledge.htm
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| by Greg Nixon , docnixon@shaw.ca | | by Greg Nixon , docnixon@shaw.ca |
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| Prince George Canada | | Prince George Canada |
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| == Origins == | | == Origins == |
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| Brown, N.O. (1959). Life Against Death. Middleton, CT: Wesleyan U Press. | | Brown, N.O. (1959). Life Against Death. Middleton, CT: Wesleyan U Press. |
| Cassirer, E. (1944). An Essay on Man: An Introduction to a Philosophy of Human Culture. New Haven/London: Yale U Press. | | Cassirer, E. (1944). An Essay on Man: An Introduction to a Philosophy of Human Culture. New Haven/London: Yale U Press. |
− | (Copyright renewed 1972, H. Cassirer & A. Applebaum.)
| + | (Copyright renewed 1972, H. Cassirer & A. Applebaum.) |
| Cassirer, E. (1946). Language and Myth, trans. S.K. Langer. New York: Dover. | | Cassirer, E. (1946). Language and Myth, trans. S.K. Langer. New York: Dover. |
| Chauvet, J-M., Deschamps, É.B., & Hillaire, C. (1996). Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave, trans. P. G. Bahn. New York: Abrams. | | Chauvet, J-M., Deschamps, É.B., & Hillaire, C. (1996). Dawn of Art: The Chauvet Cave, trans. P. G. Bahn. New York: Abrams. |
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| Gans, E. (1993). Originary Thinking: Elements of Generative Anthropology. Stanford: Stanford U Press. | | Gans, E. (1993). Originary Thinking: Elements of Generative Anthropology. Stanford: Stanford U Press. |
| Gans, E. (1999). The little bang: The early origin of language. Anthropoetics: The Journal of Generative Anthropology V, 1. Online. | | Gans, E. (1999). The little bang: The early origin of language. Anthropoetics: The Journal of Generative Anthropology V, 1. Online. |
− | http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/anthropoetics/ap0501/gans.htm
| + | https://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/anthropoetics/ap0501/gans.htm |
− | Gans, E. (accessed 2006). A brief introduction to generative anthropology. Online. http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/gaintro.htm | + | Gans, E. (accessed 2006). A brief introduction to generative anthropology. Online. https://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/gaintro.htm |
| Greenspan, S.I., & Shanker, S.G. (2004). The First Idea: How Symbols, Language, and Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate | | Greenspan, S.I., & Shanker, S.G. (2004). The First Idea: How Symbols, Language, and Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate |
| Ancestors to Modern Humans. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo. | | Ancestors to Modern Humans. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo. |
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| 1981.) | | 1981.) |
| Nixon, G. Mercurius (1995). The Coil of Time and the Recoil of Memory. Bragg Creek, AB: Makyo. | | Nixon, G. Mercurius (1995). The Coil of Time and the Recoil of Memory. Bragg Creek, AB: Makyo. |
− | Nixon, G. (2006). Myth and mind: The origin of human consciousness in the discovery of the sacred. Online. http://members.shaw.ca/docnixon/pubs/mythmind.pdf | + | Nixon, G. (2006). Myth and mind: The origin of human consciousness in the discovery of the sacred. Online. https://members.shaw.ca/docnixon/pubs/mythmind.pdf |
| Noble, W. & Davidson, I. (1991). The evolutionary emergence of modern human behaviour—language and its archeology. Man 26: | | Noble, W. & Davidson, I. (1991). The evolutionary emergence of modern human behaviour—language and its archeology. Man 26: |
| 223-253. | | 223-253. |
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| White, T.D., Asfaw, B., DeGusta, D., Gilbert, H., Richards, G.D., Suwa, G., & Howell, F.C. (2003). Pleistocene Homo sapiens from | | White, T.D., Asfaw, B., DeGusta, D., Gilbert, H., Richards, G.D., Suwa, G., & Howell, F.C. (2003). Pleistocene Homo sapiens from |
| Middle Awash, Ethiopia. Nature 423: 742-747. | | Middle Awash, Ethiopia. Nature 423: 742-747. |
− | Wikipedia (accessed 2006). Mitochondrial Eve. Online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve | + | Wikipedia (accessed 2006). Mitochondrial Eve. Online. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrial_Eve |
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| == Notes == | | == Notes == |
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| 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) |
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| 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) |
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| 3. The earliest known bones at this time seem to be those of the subspecies Homo sapiens idaltu, named by paleoanthropologist Tim | | 3. The earliest known bones at this time seem to be those of the subspecies Homo sapiens idaltu, named by paleoanthropologist Tim |
| White (White et al., 2003) and dated to approximately 160 kya. Recently, however, McDougall, Brown, and Fleagle (2005) redated | | White (White et al., 2003) and dated to approximately 160 kya. Recently, however, McDougall, Brown, and Fleagle (2005) redated |
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| is in this range, now generally thought to have lived ca. 150 kya (Wikipedia, 2006). A forerunner species, archaic H. sapiens, | | is in this range, now generally thought to have lived ca. 150 kya (Wikipedia, 2006). A forerunner species, archaic H. sapiens, |
| originating as early as 500 kya is now widely identified as H. heidelbergensis (Klein, 2002; Tattersall, 1998). (back) | | originating as early as 500 kya is now widely identified as H. heidelbergensis (Klein, 2002; Tattersall, 1998). (back) |
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| 4. Famed anthropologist Richard Leakey (1994): "Humans became human through intense learning not just of survival skills but of | | 4. Famed anthropologist Richard Leakey (1994): "Humans became human through intense learning not just of survival skills but of |
| customs and social mores, kinship and social laws—that is, culture. . . . Culture can be said to be the human adaptation" (p. 45). | | customs and social mores, kinship and social laws—that is, culture. . . . Culture can be said to be the human adaptation" (p. 45). |
| (back) | | (back) |
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| 5. Bickerton (1995, 2000) has claimed protolanguage compares with nonsyntactic pidgen; he also sees it as symbolic in the sense of | | 5. Bickerton (1995, 2000) has claimed protolanguage compares with nonsyntactic pidgen; he also sees it as symbolic in the sense of |
| using signs or icons to indicate concrete actualities, what I would call representational. In this sense, symbolic interaction has been | | using signs or icons to indicate concrete actualities, what I would call representational. In this sense, symbolic interaction has been |
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| preservation; however, language as symbolic narrative or with symbolic self-reference (cf., Cassirer, 1946; Deacon, 1997) is no | | preservation; however, language as symbolic narrative or with symbolic self-reference (cf., Cassirer, 1946; Deacon, 1997) is no |
| longer proto. (back) | | longer proto. (back) |
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| 6. Exaptation: "Features that arose in one context but were later co-opted for use in another" (Tattersall, 1998, p. 108). (back) | | 6. Exaptation: "Features that arose in one context but were later co-opted for use in another" (Tattersall, 1998, p. 108). (back) |
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| 7. Hauser, Chomsky, and Fitch (2002) refer to FLB, the faculty of language in the broad sense, that many animals have, and to FLN, | | 7. Hauser, Chomsky, and Fitch (2002) refer to FLB, the faculty of language in the broad sense, that many animals have, and to FLN, |
| the faculty of language in the narrow sense, that only humans have. When I speak of formal language or human language | | the faculty of language in the narrow sense, that only humans have. When I speak of formal language or human language |
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| 8. I speculate that protolanguage received major impetus with the early control of fire, an event that provided a more compelling | | 8. I speculate that protolanguage received major impetus with the early control of fire, an event that provided a more compelling |
| center for attraction and repulsion than any game animal. (back) | | center for attraction and repulsion than any game animal. (back) |
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| 9. Though language as representation is problematic, as will be seen below (back) | | 9. Though language as representation is problematic, as will be seen below (back) |
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| 10. It must be noted that the such abilities are not innate but have resulted from extensive training by humans, another indication | | 10. It must be noted that the such abilities are not innate but have resulted from extensive training by humans, another indication |
| that language was a cultural creation not a biological accident. (back) | | that language was a cultural creation not a biological accident. (back) |
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| 11. Some few Neanderthal burials have indeed taken place but none have yet been located that contain the sorts of weapons, tools, | | 11. Some few Neanderthal burials have indeed taken place but none have yet been located that contain the sorts of weapons, tools, |
| food items, or ornamentation that might be thought to be useful to the deceased in the afterlife. The famous Neanderthal "flower | | food items, or ornamentation that might be thought to be useful to the deceased in the afterlife. The famous Neanderthal "flower |
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| means of disposing of corpses that soon become unpleasant company. Tattersall (1998) concludes that "it is difficult to sustain the | | means of disposing of corpses that soon become unpleasant company. Tattersall (1998) concludes that "it is difficult to sustain the |
| notion that Neanderthal burial represented symbolic activity, as opposed to the simple expression of grief and loss" (p. 161). (back) | | notion that Neanderthal burial represented symbolic activity, as opposed to the simple expression of grief and loss" (p. 161). (back) |
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| 12. Donald (1991) differentiates the episodic cognition of infrahumans from the mimetic cognition of hominid prehumans, and the | | 12. Donald (1991) differentiates the episodic cognition of infrahumans from the mimetic cognition of hominid prehumans, and the |
| mythic mind of the first true humans who were yet premodern. The modern mind he calls theoretic, i.e., analytic and objective, built | | mythic mind of the first true humans who were yet premodern. The modern mind he calls theoretic, i.e., analytic and objective, built |
| around the mythic mind. (back) | | around the mythic mind. (back) |
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| 13. My difference from Gans here may be terminological, depending on what he intends by representation. Ambiguously, he also | | 13. My difference from Gans here may be terminological, depending on what he intends by representation. Ambiguously, he also |
| states that language need not re-present external reality: "Since language makes things appear, there is no need for the appearance | | states that language need not re-present external reality: "Since language makes things appear, there is no need for the appearance |
| it evokes to correspond with reality" (1990 p. 22). (back) | | it evokes to correspond with reality" (1990 p. 22). (back) |
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| 14. Donald (1991) notes that "mimesis is fundamentally different from imitation and mimicry in that it involves the invention of | | 14. Donald (1991) notes that "mimesis is fundamentally different from imitation and mimicry in that it involves the invention of |
| intentional representations. When there is an audience to interpret the action, mimesis also serves the purpose of social | | intentional representations. When there is an audience to interpret the action, mimesis also serves the purpose of social |
| communication" (p. 169). (back) | | communication" (p. 169). (back) |
− | 15. Benson et al. (2002) claim Kanzi demonstrates these; perhaps, albeit in a highly restricted manner. Semantic creativity requires | + | |
| + | 15.Benson et al. (2002) claim Kanzi demonstrates these; perhaps, albeit in a highly restricted manner. Semantic creativity requires |
| that the whole constructive system be active: a change in quality or kind, not degree. (back) | | that the whole constructive system be active: a change in quality or kind, not degree. (back) |
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| 16. There is certainly disagreement with this among linguists. Pinker (1994) stays with incremental evolution; Kristeva (1989) agrees | | 16. There is certainly disagreement with this among linguists. Pinker (1994) stays with incremental evolution; Kristeva (1989) agrees |
| with the timeline here but suggests that the graphic image preceded the vocal; Hagège (1990) postulates a multiregional language | | with the timeline here but suggests that the graphic image preceded the vocal; Hagège (1990) postulates a multiregional language |
| origin in which speech was discovered in various times and places by humans—thus no first language. (back) | | origin in which speech was discovered in various times and places by humans—thus no first language. (back) |
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| 17. This section is necessarily a condensation of ideas better developed elsewhere (Nixon, 2006). (back) | | 17. This section is necessarily a condensation of ideas better developed elsewhere (Nixon, 2006). (back) |
− | 18. "Myth is a form of poetry which transcends poetry in that it proclaims a truth; a form of reasoning which transcends reasoning in | + | |
| + | 18. Myth is a form of poetry which transcends poetry in that it proclaims a truth; a form of reasoning which transcends reasoning in |
| that it wants to bring about the truth it proclaims; a form of action, of ritual behaviour, which does not find its fulfillment in the act | | that it wants to bring about the truth it proclaims; a form of action, of ritual behaviour, which does not find its fulfillment in the act |
| but must proclaim and elaborate a poetic form of myth" (Frankfort & Frankfort, 1946, p. 16). Also see Cassirer, 1946. (back) | | but must proclaim and elaborate a poetic form of myth" (Frankfort & Frankfort, 1946, p. 16). Also see Cassirer, 1946. (back) |
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| 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) |
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| 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 | + | |
− | [http://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/] | + | ISSN 1083-7264 [https://www.anthropoetics.ucla.edu/ap1201/] |
| + | |
| + | [[Category: Articles]] |
| + | [[Category: Extended]] |
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