Page 224 - Kavur, Boris. Devet esejev o (skoraj) človeški podobi. Založba Univerze na Primorskem, Koper 2014.
P. 224
devet esejev o (skoraj) človeški podobi
ment of species – in to evolutionism. Standard explanation of evolution as a
slow and gradual changing is a myth. A myth born from another one – from
the Victorian presumption of progress (Eldredge, Tattersall 1982). In the in-
dustrial impetus following the seizure of the energetic potential of fossil fuels,
the Victorian mentality created an assumption of irreversible progress which
in accordance with maltusiastic economy, on which, by the way, the bases of
Darwin’s suppositions on natural selection were formed, created an image of
inevitable decline or necessity of enslavement of economically weaker popula-
tions.
That is why the myth of progress, about the inevitable and constant im-
provement, explaining history of humanity as a struggle from savagery to all
the benefits of modern civilizations, from barbarism to sophistication, makes
difficult the general perception of cultural evolution. It is here that we can
look for the first supposition from which the perception of Neanderthals was
derived. There is a fact that they have gone extinct. But from the fact derived
evolutionary inferiority is a myth.
Ideological changes in western culture left behind in the last decade’s re-
markable traces on hypotheses explaining human origins and depictions of
human nature. Majority of traditional depictments from the 19th and early
20th century presented the origins of culture as a rivalry between beast and
man or as the conflict between different human groups. This image did not
lose its meaning due to new archaeological and anthropological discoveries
but was omitted due to changes in thinking in post war Europe. We have wit-
nessed a reconceptualization of the noble savage which was not depicted in
conflict with nature but was able to his cultural capacity to optimally make
one’s advantage of nature. Development of human culture became depicted
as successful collaboration between people and nature. And people were de-
picted, differing from animals due to their capacity to interact and communi-
cate, to feel compassion, altruism… and to share prey among their closest
(Stoczkowski 1999, 131).
224
ment of species – in to evolutionism. Standard explanation of evolution as a
slow and gradual changing is a myth. A myth born from another one – from
the Victorian presumption of progress (Eldredge, Tattersall 1982). In the in-
dustrial impetus following the seizure of the energetic potential of fossil fuels,
the Victorian mentality created an assumption of irreversible progress which
in accordance with maltusiastic economy, on which, by the way, the bases of
Darwin’s suppositions on natural selection were formed, created an image of
inevitable decline or necessity of enslavement of economically weaker popula-
tions.
That is why the myth of progress, about the inevitable and constant im-
provement, explaining history of humanity as a struggle from savagery to all
the benefits of modern civilizations, from barbarism to sophistication, makes
difficult the general perception of cultural evolution. It is here that we can
look for the first supposition from which the perception of Neanderthals was
derived. There is a fact that they have gone extinct. But from the fact derived
evolutionary inferiority is a myth.
Ideological changes in western culture left behind in the last decade’s re-
markable traces on hypotheses explaining human origins and depictions of
human nature. Majority of traditional depictments from the 19th and early
20th century presented the origins of culture as a rivalry between beast and
man or as the conflict between different human groups. This image did not
lose its meaning due to new archaeological and anthropological discoveries
but was omitted due to changes in thinking in post war Europe. We have wit-
nessed a reconceptualization of the noble savage which was not depicted in
conflict with nature but was able to his cultural capacity to optimally make
one’s advantage of nature. Development of human culture became depicted
as successful collaboration between people and nature. And people were de-
picted, differing from animals due to their capacity to interact and communi-
cate, to feel compassion, altruism… and to share prey among their closest
(Stoczkowski 1999, 131).
224
