Richard Hallam, May 2022
Routledge | Paperback
ISBN-13: 9780367761035
The Evolution of Human Cleverness presents a unique introduction to the way human cognitive abilities have evolved. The book comprises a series of mini-essays on distinct topics in which technical terms are simplified, considering how humans made the long journey from our ape-like ancestors to become capable of higher-level reasoning and problem solving.
The book draws on research from diverse fields including Psychology, Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology and Neuroscience. All the topics are cross-linked, allowing the reader to dip in and out, but certain key concepts run through the underlying reasoning. Chiefly, these are: adaptation and selection, the distinction between ultimate and proximate causes of behaviour, gene/culture co-evolution, and domain-general versus domain-specific cognitive processes. The book should help the reader draw lessons for the human species as a whole, especially in view of the environmental threats to its own existence.
Reviews
Glenn Shean, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA
Ariel Stravynski, Professeur Honoraire, Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Canada
Freddy Jackson Brown, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, North Bristol NHS Trust Associate Fellow, Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal, and Research, University of Warwick
Adriano Bugliani, Assistant Professor, History of Philosophy, University of Firenze, Italy
All content © Richard Hallam 2009-2022