Michael Tomasello argumenterer for, at det er samarbejde og social interaktion, der adskiller mennesker fra andre dyr. Gennem to årtiers sammenlignende studier af mennesker og store aber viser han, hvordan disse sociale færdigheder har formet vores unikke kognitive evner, hvilket er centralt for forståelsen af menneskets evolution.
Titel på undersøgelse:
A Natural History of Human Thinking.
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Hele abstrakt på originalsprog:
The book “A Natural History of Human Thinking” by Michael Tomasello investigates the evolutionary roots of human cognition, focusing on what distinguishes human thinking from that of other primates. Tomasello argues that human thought emerged through a two-step process driven by social cooperation. First, joint intentionality evolved as early humans collaborated in small groups, necessitating shared goals and communication. This laid the groundwork for more complex cognition. Second, collective intentionality developed with cultural advancements, enabling humans to create shared norms, institutions, and abstract reasoning. Drawing on comparative studies with great apes and developmental research with children, Tomasello highlights how capacities like perspective-taking, recursive thinking, and language co-evolved with social demands. He posits that humans’ unique ability to think collectively—imagining others’ thoughts and coordinating through shared understanding—underpins culture, morality, and technological progress. The book reframes human intelligence as a social rather than solitary achievement, emphasizing cooperation as the engine of cognitive evolution. This interdisciplinary work bridges psychology, anthropology, and philosophy, offering insights into the origins of our mental capabilities.