Items related to More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Synopsis
The human mind is an unlikely evolutionary adaptation. How did humans acquire cognitive capacities far more powerful than anything a hunting-and-gathering primate needed to survive? Alfred Russel Wallace, co-founder with Darwin of evolutionary theory, saw humans as "divine exceptions" to natural selection. Darwin thought use of language might have shaped our sophisticated brains, but his hypothesis remained an intriguing guess--until now. Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing and thinking about language evolution, Derek Bickerton convincingly resolves a crucial problem that both biology and the cognitive sciences have hitherto ignored or evaded.
What evolved first was neither language nor intelligence--merely normal animal communication plus displacement. That was enough to break restrictions on both thought and communication that bound all other animals. The brain self-organized to store and automatically process its new input, words. But words, which are inextricably linked to the concepts they represent, had to be accessible to consciousness. The inevitable consequence was a cognitive engine able to voluntarily merge both thoughts and words into meaningful combinations. Only in a third phase could language emerge, as humans began to tinker with a medium that, when used for communication, was adequate for speakers but suboptimal for hearers.
Starting from humankind's remotest past, More than Nature Needs transcends nativist thesis and empiricist antithesis by presenting a revolutionary synthesis--one that instead of merely repeating "nature and nurture" clichés shows specifically and in a principled manner how and why the synthesis came about.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Derek Bickerton (1926–2018) was Professor Emeritus of Linguistics at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
Used
Hardcover
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Good. How did humans acquire cognition more powerful than a hunting-gathering primate needed to survive? Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing about language evolution, Derek Bickerton resolves a crucial problem that both biology and cognitive science have ignored: how animal thinking escaped the prison of the here and now. Seller Inventory # 00101846788
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # D06F-02724
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
Used
Hardcover
Seller: HPB-Red, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_480581911
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
Used
Hardcover
Seller: World of Books Inc, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Good. How did humans acquire cognition more powerful than a hunting-gathering primate needed to survive? Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing about language evolution, Derek Bickerton resolves a crucial problem that both biology and cognitive science have ignored: how animal thinking escaped the prison of the here and now. Seller Inventory # CIN0674724909G
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs: Language, Mind, and Evolution
Seller: Goodmediandmore, Asheville, NC, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Good. Clean text, light wear to edges. Ships next business day from NC. Seller Inventory # S117-41-TS26-20260710-G-2M
Seller Image
More than Nature Needs : Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
Used
Hardcover
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Seller Inventory # 19706166
Seller Image
More than Nature Needs : Language, Mind, and Evolution
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
New
Hardcover
Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 19706166-n
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs (Hardcover)
Published by
Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
New
Hardcover
Seller: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. The human mind is an unlikely evolutionary adaptation. How did humans acquire cognitive capacities far more powerful than anything a hunting-and-gathering primate needed to survive? Alfred Russel Wallace, co-founder with Darwin of evolutionary theory, saw humans as "divine exceptions" to natural selection. Darwin thought use of language might have shaped our sophisticated brains, but his hypothesis remained an intriguing guess--until now. Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing and thinking about language evolution, Derek Bickerton convincingly resolves a crucial problem that both biology and the cognitive sciences have hitherto ignored or evaded.What evolved first was neither language nor intelligence--merely normal animal communication plus displacement. That was enough to break restrictions on both thought and communication that bound all other animals. The brain self-organized to store and automatically process its new input, words. But words, which are inextricably linked to the concepts they represent, had to be accessible to consciousness. The inevitable consequence was a cognitive engine able to voluntarily merge both thoughts and words into meaningful combinations. Only in a third phase could language emerge, as humans began to tinker with a medium that, when used for communication, was adequate for speakers but suboptimal for hearers.Starting from humankind's remotest past, More than Nature Needs transcends nativist thesis and empiricist antithesis by presenting a revolutionary synthesis--one that instead of merely repeating "nature and nurture" cliches shows specifically and in a principled manner how and why the synthesis came about. How did humans acquire cognition more powerful than a hunting-gathering primate needed to survive? Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing about language evolution, Derek Bickerton resolves a crucial problem that both biology and cognitive science have ignored: how animal thinking escaped the prison of the here and now. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780674724907
Seller Image
More than Nature Needs
Published by
Harvard University Press, US, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
New
Hardcover
Seller: Rarewaves.com USA, London, LONDO, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: New. The human mind is an unlikely evolutionary adaptation. How did humans acquire cognitive capacities far more powerful than anything a hunting-and-gathering primate needed to survive? Alfred Russel Wallace, co-founder with Darwin of evolutionary theory, saw humans as "divine exceptions" to natural selection. Darwin thought use of language might have shaped our sophisticated brains, but his hypothesis remained an intriguing guess--until now. Combining state-of-the-art research with forty years of writing and thinking about language evolution, Derek Bickerton convincingly resolves a crucial problem that both biology and the cognitive sciences have hitherto ignored or evaded.What evolved first was neither language nor intelligence--merely normal animal communication plus displacement. That was enough to break restrictions on both thought and communication that bound all other animals. The brain self-organized to store and automatically process its new input, words. But words, which are inextricably linked to the concepts they represent, had to be accessible to consciousness. The inevitable consequence was a cognitive engine able to voluntarily merge both thoughts and words into meaningful combinations. Only in a third phase could language emerge, as humans began to tinker with a medium that, when used for communication, was adequate for speakers but suboptimal for hearers.Starting from humankind's remotest past, More than Nature Needs transcends nativist thesis and empiricist antithesis by presenting a revolutionary synthesis--one that instead of merely repeating "nature and nurture" clichés shows specifically and in a principled manner how and why the synthesis came about. Seller Inventory # LU-9780674724907
Buy New
US$ 53.43
Free Shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 3 available
Stock Image
More than Nature Needs
Published by
Harvard University Press, 2014
ISBN 10: 0674724909
ISBN 13: 9780674724907
New
Hardcover
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
HRD. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # WH-9780674724907
Buy New
US$ 46.87
US$ 7.77 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 5 available