Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 225 | Michael Tomasello on The Social Origins of Cognition and Agency
216 snips
Jan 30, 2023 
Michael Tomasello, a prominent researcher in human cognition and social origins, explores the fascinating evolution of agency and morality. He discusses how our cognitive abilities developed through social pressures, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and communication. The conversation touches on cognitive parallels with great apes, the emergence of language from gestures, and the complex roots of morality influenced by altruism. Tomasello also delves into the significance of 'theory of mind' and how interdependence shapes our social behaviors.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Unique Human Sociability
- Humans and great apes differ significantly in their social skills, leading to distinct cognitive abilities.
- This difference is evident in humans' capacity for complex communication and cooperation, absent in apes.
Biological Basis of Social Skills
- Human social skills have a biological basis, as evidenced by the challenges faced by individuals with autism.
- These individuals often struggle with the social cognition that seems to set humans apart.
Collaborative Foraging
- The key differentiator in human evolution is collaborative activities like foraging and hunting, not individual brainpower.
- This shift, evident in tool use and brain growth, occurred relatively late in human evolution.
