New Books in Anthropology Charles Foster, "Being a Human: Adventures in Forty Thousand Years of Consciousness" (Metropolitan Books, 2021)
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Dec 29, 2024 Charles Foster, a legal scholar, veterinary surgeon, and naturalist, explores the evolution of human consciousness over 40,000 years, drawing on his experiences living as different species. He reflects on pivotal moments like the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture, revealing how this shift has impacted our mental health and relationships. Foster emphasizes the need for a deeper connection to nature and revisiting ancient narratives to address modern identity crises, advocating for a blend of science, intuition, and empathy in navigating our complex existence.
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Behavioral Modernity
- Anatomically modern humans existed 200,000 years ago but behaved differently.
- Around 50,000 years ago, behaviorally modern consciousness emerged, marked by self-awareness and storytelling.
Social Structure in the Upper Paleolithic
- A sense of self enabled social interaction, but early humans primarily lived in small, family-based units.
- Larger clans existed with shared language and culture, limited by Dunbar's number (around 150).
Hunter-Gatherer Skills
- Upper Paleolithic humans were skilled naturalists, intimately connected to their environment.
- Unlike farmers, they relied on knowledge of diverse species and seasonal changes.
