Reading 1
1) According to Wilson human nature is "...the heritary rules of mental development...manifested as biases in the way our senses perceive the world."
These are also referred to by the author in other writings (see Wilson, 1997) as 'epigenetic rules'.
2) These rules "...generate options....". This means that we are not compelled to select one or the other. The choice may be determined rationally by the situation in which it occurs, even though that there may be an irrational or emotional bias towards one option.
3) An example of a bias could be a reponse to a certain graphic design. We will all respond , though the responses will be individual.
4) An aversion is triggered by a negative experience. The aversion could not have been formed without an innate predisposition for it; that is, an epigenetic rule or bias.
5) Even though Wilson is an entomologist he has an irrational fear of spiders.
6) People haven't developed ‘aversions’ to knives and guns according to Wilson because there has been sufficient time for us develop one. Aversions require, it seems, the presence of an epigenetic rule which are derived through the processes of natural selection.
7) ‘Hardwiring’ is when behaviour is written into genes; that is it is innate and instinctive.
Reading 2
1) According to Wilson human nature is "...the heritary rules of mental development...manifested as biases in the way our senses perceive the world."
These are also referred to by the author in other writings (see Wilson, 1997) as 'epigenetic rules'.
2) These rules "...generate options....". This means that we are not compelled to select one or the other. The choice may be determined rationally by the situation in which it occurs, even though that there may be an irrational or emotional bias towards one option.
3) An example of a bias could be a reponse to a certain graphic design. We will all respond , though the responses will be individual.
4) An aversion is triggered by a negative experience. The aversion could not have been formed without an innate predisposition for it; that is, an epigenetic rule or bias.
5) Even though Wilson is an entomologist he has an irrational fear of spiders.
6) People haven't developed ‘aversions’ to knives and guns according to Wilson because there has been sufficient time for us develop one. Aversions require, it seems, the presence of an epigenetic rule which are derived through the processes of natural selection.
7) ‘Hardwiring’ is when behaviour is written into genes; that is it is innate and instinctive.
Reading 2
Pre-reading task -Landscape description and drawing
This lesson was carried out on two classes of approximately twenty students in each. All students produced very similar results and very consistent with the savanna hypothesis. The seven drawing presented above were chosen for their aesthetic appeal and their representativeness.
Notice that Zaharina's drawing (bottom) includes dophins -indicating that the sea, which her house overlooks, is 'fruitful' or productive. Sheryne's drawing (second from the bottom) is very close to the predicted landscape, notably the view from her terrace. Jules' drawing (third from the top) though very elegant shows less of the characteristics of the others; his house is rather exposed but surrounded by farmland and includes copses.
Gist Questions
The ‘savanna hypothesis’ claims that people prefer and create savanna like landscapes because they have a mental template for it. That is, we are predisposed to produce this landscape because it, in a sense, reminds us of the African landscape in which we evolved.
In the extract from Lawrence of Arabia, Prince Feisel suggests Lawrence is somewhat abnormal for loving the desert, as even the people that live there do not. For this reason Feisel is suspicious of both the Lawrence and the English.
Comprehension Questions
1. In choosing a place to locate a home, what three environmental characteristics do people most prefer? (paragraph 1)
a) To live on a site from which we can look down and out.
b) To have a parkland with scattered individual and groups of trees..
c)To be close to a body of water.
2. What should be behind the house? (paragraph 2)
The habitation should be a "retreat", having a solid structure at the back such as a cliff.
3. What kinds of trees and animals do people like to see as they overlook the landscape in front of their house? (paragraph 2)
To have a view of "fruitful terrain" that includes domestic and wild animals
4. Why did our ancestors like small isolated clusters of trees? (paragraph 3)
The trees would be a place to hide from enemies and or to be a place conceal hunters when hunting.
5. What kind of trees are most often preferred by people and the author of the text?
People prefer trees with "...low horizontal branches with divided leaves...". The Japanese maple has these characteristics. The text does not explain why these characteristics are preferred, though it is probably connected to the 'savanna hypothesis'. We could surmise that they have quality of allowing one to climb into them easily due to their low branches and conceal oneself, while permitting the individual to see through the foliage owing to their open leaves.
6.. What was the function of a river or lake for our forebears from Africa? (paragraph 3)
The water body would serve as a demarcation of territory.
7. What do you think ‘genetic human nature’ is? (paragraph 4)
This is human behavior that is determined by genes.
8. Was Gerard Piel a supporter of this notion? Explain your answer.
No he was 'disinclined' to accept it, which means he did not favor the hypothesis.
9. What did E.O.Wilson do on the balcony of Piel’s apartment?
He looked down for an extended moment (he gazed) at the view.
10.. Why did he especially enjoy his little walk onto the balcony?
Because the setting of Piel's apartment had all the characteristics of the ideal human habitation consistent with the savanna hypothesis.
11. Do you agree with the savanna hypothesis? Explain.
Summary: Epigenetic Rules & Human Nature
Innate tendencies described as bias, predispositions are collectively referred to as 'epigenetic rules'. A full collections of these would constitute a description of human nature. The savanna hypothesis, the predisposition to develop aversions to snakes and spiders, as well as biases towards certain shapes or colours are just some examples. In the next lesson we will explore others. Click on the link below to find out more:
Supernormal stimuli and the Picasso Effect (in preparation)
References
Wilson, E.O.(1997) Consilience: The unity of knowledge. Abacus. UK.
________ (2006) The Creation: An appeal to save life on earth. Norton. NY
Return to:
An Introduction to Epigenetic Rules - The Savanah Hypothesis
Nature, Art & Language
Comprehension Questions
1. In choosing a place to locate a home, what three environmental characteristics do people most prefer? (paragraph 1)
a) To live on a site from which we can look down and out.
b) To have a parkland with scattered individual and groups of trees..
c)To be close to a body of water.
2. What should be behind the house? (paragraph 2)
The habitation should be a "retreat", having a solid structure at the back such as a cliff.
3. What kinds of trees and animals do people like to see as they overlook the landscape in front of their house? (paragraph 2)
To have a view of "fruitful terrain" that includes domestic and wild animals
4. Why did our ancestors like small isolated clusters of trees? (paragraph 3)
The trees would be a place to hide from enemies and or to be a place conceal hunters when hunting.
5. What kind of trees are most often preferred by people and the author of the text?
People prefer trees with "...low horizontal branches with divided leaves...". The Japanese maple has these characteristics. The text does not explain why these characteristics are preferred, though it is probably connected to the 'savanna hypothesis'. We could surmise that they have quality of allowing one to climb into them easily due to their low branches and conceal oneself, while permitting the individual to see through the foliage owing to their open leaves.
6.. What was the function of a river or lake for our forebears from Africa? (paragraph 3)
The water body would serve as a demarcation of territory.
7. What do you think ‘genetic human nature’ is? (paragraph 4)
This is human behavior that is determined by genes.
8. Was Gerard Piel a supporter of this notion? Explain your answer.
No he was 'disinclined' to accept it, which means he did not favor the hypothesis.
9. What did E.O.Wilson do on the balcony of Piel’s apartment?
He looked down for an extended moment (he gazed) at the view.
10.. Why did he especially enjoy his little walk onto the balcony?
Because the setting of Piel's apartment had all the characteristics of the ideal human habitation consistent with the savanna hypothesis.
11. Do you agree with the savanna hypothesis? Explain.
Summary: Epigenetic Rules & Human Nature
Innate tendencies described as bias, predispositions are collectively referred to as 'epigenetic rules'. A full collections of these would constitute a description of human nature. The savanna hypothesis, the predisposition to develop aversions to snakes and spiders, as well as biases towards certain shapes or colours are just some examples. In the next lesson we will explore others. Click on the link below to find out more:
Supernormal stimuli and the Picasso Effect (in preparation)
References
Wilson, E.O.(1997) Consilience: The unity of knowledge. Abacus. UK.
________ (2006) The Creation: An appeal to save life on earth. Norton. NY
Return to:
An Introduction to Epigenetic Rules - The Savanah Hypothesis
Nature, Art & Language
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