How We Became Human
Mimetic Theory and the Science of Evolutionary Origins
Paul Gifford
405 pages | ~11 hrs
How We Became Human
Mimetic Theory and the Science of Evolutionary Origins
By Paul Gifford
This profound exploration delves into one of humanity's most fundamental questions: what transformed us from our earliest ancestors into the complex beings we are today? Drawing from René Girard's influential mimetic theory, this scholarly investigation examines how ancient religious practices, sacrifice, and ritual may hold crucial keys to understanding human emergence.
The book brings together diverse academic perspectives, weaving insights from evolutionary theory, anthropology, archaeology, psychology, and philosophy to examine Girard's bold proposition that his framework could serve as a unifying theory for human development. Just as Darwin's work revolutionized our understanding of biological evolution, contributors explore whether Girard's insights into cultural evolution might provide a similarly transformative lens for comprehending human consciousness and society.
Rather than viewing our spiritual and cultural dimensions as separate from our evolutionary story, this work suggests they may be intimately connected to our very becoming. The authors present compelling evidence supporting the idea that sacred practices and communal rituals played essential roles in shaping human nature itself.
For readers seeking to understand the deeper currents that have shaped human consciousness and community, this interdisciplinary approach offers fresh perspectives on age-old questions. The book invites contemplation of how our capacity for meaning-making, relationship, and transcendence may be woven into the very fabric of what makes us distinctly human.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Social evolution
- ✓ Explore Sociobiology
- ✓ Explore Cultural Evolution
- ✓ Explore Methods
- ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
- ✓ Explore Human beings
- ✓ Explore Criticism and interpretation
- ✓ Explore Biological Evolution
Topics
Details
- Published
- 2015
- Publisher
- Michigan State University Press
- ISBN-13
- 9781609174613
- ISBN-10
- 1609174615
- Pages
- 405
- Language
- EN
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