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How Homo Became Sapiens: On the Evolution of Thinking

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With all the primate observations and experiments done in recent years, it's not clear whether they've been tested with that favourite childhood toy, Lego blocks. Peter Gardenfors must have been a keen Lego practitioner, however. His thesis of how our primate ancestors developed the unique cognitive skills we possess reflects those childhood building techniques. He has a great deal of imagination as shown in his ideas and the in the manner he presents them. In this highly readable and innovative treatise, he proposes that our African ancestors developed a high level of self-awareness before other cognitive skills could follow. From that condition, our thinking abilities burgeoned well past that of our primate cousins. He utilises the Platonic dialog in a fresh manner to present his ideas. Gardenfors produces an imaginary talking monkey - Egon - to present questions readers might have on the proposed scenarios. Readers may judge the appropriateness of the technique for themselves.

Most of his thesis resounds of commonly-accepted views. The physical progression from Homo habilis to sapiens is established. What is not is the development of cognitive skills. How did the brain develop and what promoted its impetus? Gardenfors' departure is in how the process unfolded. Instead of building a few basic traits and skills, adding a bit to each over time, he suggests that various elements in our cognitive abilities emerged, developed into a mature state, then "rested". Then another trait would follow the same path to achieve an equivalent level of functionality. He starts with the physical, of course, touch sensation and perception of visual and auditory signals. From these would arise such elements as emotions, memory and planning. In turn, these advances build self-consciousness, "free will" and language, the ultimate achievement.

Gardenfors tentatively proposes that the adding of each level of cognitive ability drove the brain to become the structure humans enjoy today. The feedback loop is through hunting and meat consumption, which provides resources for an enlarging brain. The enlarging brain demands more resources and advanced cognitive skills to obtain them. Once the first steps beyond what our savannah-living ancestors ate and how they acquired food took place, the continuing reinforcement expanded our thinking abilities. Gardenfors relies on Daniel C. Dennett's ["Darwin's Dangerous Idea"] four-step sequence of the evolution of awareness. While the model is valid, it remains an open question whether Gardenfors' depiction of it as a segmented advancements is equally plausible.

For humans today cognitive skills go beyond those of mere survival and mating tactics. This step means incorporating a sense of intentionality on the part of others. Are the goals we strive for related to those of someone else? Are they in conflict? Can that conflict be resolved and how do we accomplish that? Gardenfors addresses these questions carefully, using "Egon the Talking Monkey" as his foil. "Egon" stands in for the remainder of the animal kingdom, and Gardenfors is at pains to establish what he sees as an abyss between "us" and "them". He's not denying our evolutionary roots, but notes that our cognitive skills represent a major departure from other primates - "apes don't ape" he declares.

This book is a good entry to the realm of cognitive studies, whether for the student considering the field or for someone with a general interest. Gardenfors's technique of using a "talking monkey" may seem a bit bizarre at first glance, but it proves a useful means of bringing various commonly posed questions to light. It also avoids having to crudely interpret or synopsise the views of others in the field. The author's text is a fine balance between the academic and the superficial popular writing too often encountered. Consciousness studies are a minefield of contrasting opinions. Gardenfors navigates the treacherous path skillfully, while presenting his own thinking. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

While the fossil evidence is pretty good in showing how humankind's bones developed, it is not at all clear how the ever increasing brainpower (actually I guess you'd have to say 'room for a brain') translated into true thinking. Then again, even defining thinking is pretty hard. (And in the case of some people I know, it's really hard to define.)

In the standard area of bone development, Gardenfors has no argument with the well documented evolutionary findings. He also gives a very good report on the research that has been conducted on the thinking patterns of other primates, and on the theories that have resulted. He crystalizes all of these together to give some opinions as to the general theories of the development of human thought and to some variations in the standard theories.

One technique that he uses in this book is to place a lot of the discussion in the form of a discussion between a speaking monkey and himself. I found that to be a little distracting, but it does help to move the story along.