Rev Left Radio Teaser: The Role of Labor in Human Evolution
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Jun 15, 2025 Dive into the fascinating evolution of labor and its profound impact on humanity! Explore how our ancestors transitioned from clever apes to intelligent beings through the use of their hands. Uncover the intertwined development of labor and language that shaped both our brains and civilization. Discover the vital role of early collaborative efforts in forming human consciousness. Marvel at how Marxist materialism can appreciate aesthetics, alongside a poignant reflection on prehistoric cave art and the emotions of our early ancestors.
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Labor Shaped Human Evolution
- Labor biological transformed clever apes into human beings over thousands of years.
- The hand was both the organ and product of labor shaping human evolution dialectically.
Labor and Language Co-Evolved
- Labor and language co-evolved with the brain, driving mental and cultural complexity.
- Consciousness emerged from practical, social labor, not prior brain evolution alone.
Class Society Fostered Idealism
- Class society divided labor's planning from physical work, fostering idealism separating mind and body.
- Consciousness is a consequence, not cause, of history and material labor practice.
