1.
How does Darwinian evolution work? Opposite of Lamarckian evolution: not
inheritance of acquired characteristics, but rather the gradual accumulation
of (rare) advantageous mutations. This implies a timescale for adaptation
to new environment (ecological niche): on the order of a million years
for significant physiological changes.
2.
What is the structure of the overall relation of living organisms? The
phylogenetic tree. Opposite of the unilineal evolution proposed by sociobiologists
such as Arthur Jensen. ex: octopus is a mollusk, like the clam or snail,
but has encephalization higher than some vertebrates (like lizards). Jensen's
model goes back to Plato, who first discussed biological determinism as
a useful myth for elitists.
3.
Some niches require high degree of encephalization (brain to body ratio)
-- how is this created? Manipulatory feedback (interactive manipulation
with the environment). Humans have two types: hand and language. Together
these are capable of creating culture: learned and shared behavior.
4.
Culture is based on Lamarckian evolution (learned information can be passed
on to next generation), unlike biology's Darwinian evolution. This implies
a very different timescale for cultural adaptation to new environments:
on the order of a thousand years.
5.
Modern humans originated in Africa around 100,000 years ago. How did they
spread over so many different environments in such a short amount of time?
The shorter time scale of Lamarckian adaptation. For this reason, we are
-- unlike any other cosmopolitan species -- 99.99% genetically identical.
6.
If we are so genetically identical, then why do people in different countries
act so differently? These are cultural differences, not genetic differences.
ex. higher student math scores in Japan than U.S. is not due to genetic
difference, but rather cultural factors such as U.S. mythology of biological
determinism ("don't worry, you just inherited my bad math skills) versus
work ethic in Asia ("don't worry, you just need to study more").
7.
What is the structure of the overall relation of cultures? Just as unilineal
ranking was incorrect for biological evolution, it is also incorrect for
cultural evolution. There is an astounding diversity of cultural adaptations.
ex: Political organization varies from band societies (no leader) to tribal
societies (low-hierarchy leader) to state societies (high-hierarchy). But
we tend to see nuclear families in both state and band societies.
ex: Most people in the U.S. use bilateral descent (related to both mother
and father). But majority of societies in the world are unilateral. Matrilineal
societies (related to mother's line only) passes wealth from father to
mother's son, in direct contradiction to predictions of sociobiologists
and other biological determinists.