ANT 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte De Buffon, Carl Linnaeus, Georges Cuvier
Document Summary
Culture: behavioral aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, and social roles. Set of learned behaviors transmitted from one generation to the next by non-biological means. Critical role in human evolution: strategy unique to human development allows them to adapt to natural environment. Culture shapes people"s perceptions of the external environment (worldview) Influences many aspects of our biological makeup, as well as biology influencing culture hence biocultural evolution. Increased pelvis size/brain size, reorganization of neurological structures. Realistic view: allows understanding others" concerns and view our own culture from broader perspective. Arose from two areas of interest among 19th century scientists: origins of modern species, human variation. Naturalists were doubting the literal interpretations of biblical accounts of creation: 1859 origin of species. Today, physical anthropologists are concerned with human variation: possible adaptive significance, desire to identify the factors that have produced genetic variation too. Subject to same forces acted upon other organisms.
