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| The Evolution of the Capacity for Culture——Some Discussions about the Relationship of Genes, Language and Culture |
| 华中师范大学文化学系，湖北武汉430079 |
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Abstract In history human development was deeply affected by two processes: (1) the biological process responsible for organic evolution and (2) the learning based process that accounts for cultural evolution. The former sets the physiological basis for culture, while the latter offers the most direct reason for the appearance of culture. But they are two distinct processes. Human anatomical and behavioral traits are shaped by natural selection and encoded in genes. Learning enables organisms to adjust to and take advantage of novel contingencies and opportunities independently of genetic changes and thus is the basis of cultural traditions. Culture is encoded in the brain, not in the genes. Human beings are not the only creature that possesses cultural capacity. Some primates know how to make and use tools; they also know how to communicate in sign language. Primates show a lot of social and altruistic behavior. We note, however, the culture of these animals remain rudimentary, because they cannot pass their knowledge and skills onto their younger generation via deliberate teaching or through written language; what they usually do is repeat the behavior of the older generation by following the error trial model.
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Received: 25 June 2002
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