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Precis of "Origins of the Modern Mind: Three Stages in the Evolution of Culture and Cognition"

Donald, Merlin (1997) Precis of "Origins of the Modern Mind: Three Stages in the Evolution of Culture and Cognition".

Short Abstract:

This book was an attempt to synthesize various sources of information--neurobiological, psychological, archeological and anthropological, among others--about our cognitive origins, in the belief that the human mind co-evolved in close interaction with both brain and culture. I should make clear from the start that I have no illusions about my ability to become expert in all of the disciplines touched on by this enterprise; accordingly my effort should be regarded with suspicion by all; at best, it will probably prove to be no more than a guide to some of the important questions that remain to be settled. This precis focuses on my core theory and disregards most of the background material reviewed at length in the book itself.

Long Abstract:

This book was an attempt to synthesize various sources of information--neurobiological, psychological, archeological and anthropological, among others--about our cognitive origins, in the belief that the human mind co-evolved in close interaction with both brain and culture. I should make clear from the start that I have no illusions about my ability to become expert in all of the disciplines touched on by this enterprise; accordingly my effort should be regarded with suspicion by all; at best, it will probably prove to be no more than a guide to some of the important questions that remain to be settled. This precis focuses on my core theory and disregards most of the background material reviewed at length in the book itself.

Keywords:	cultural evolution, cognitive evolution
Subjects:	Biology: Evolution Psychology: Cognitive Psychology Psychology: Evolutionary Psychology Psychology: Learning and Memory Neuroscience: Neuroanatomy Psychology: Psychobiology Psychology: Psycholinguistics Psychology: Social Psychology
ID code:	bbs00000566
Deposited by:	Merlin Donald on 02 May 2001