Human Evolution and the Rise of Philosophical Thought

Myth vs. Logos: The Dawn of Reason

Myth: A fantastical story, rich in symbols and metaphors, passed down through generations. Myths explain the world's origin and address questions about the afterlife, featuring gods, heroes, and characters who act arbitrarily within a natural setting. They reveal esoteric truths that require interpretation.

Logos: Representing word, argument, and reason, logos signifies language grounded in reason and explanation. This marked the beginning of rational thought, with philosophy as its heir.

Early Theories of Existence

Fixism: This theory posits that species arose from a single act of creation at a specific time and remain unchanged. Aristotle adhered to this view.

Creationism: Creationists argue for divine intervention as the explanation for the world's existence and the diversity of species. God is seen as the creator of the world, living beings, and humanity's unique position.

The Pursuit of Wisdom

Wisdom: The interconnection of knowledge, happiness, and truth. Philosophers do not possess wisdom but seek it as a distant and challenging ideal. They are, simply, friends of wisdom.

Philosopher: One who observes events with the sole purpose of understanding them. Philosophers specialize in seeing and having visions. In ancient Greek, having an idea is akin to having a vision.

Evolutionary Theories

Evolutionism (Lamarck): This theory proposes that organisms interact with each other and their environment, adapting to survive.

Natural Selection: The driving force acting slowly on individuals, favoring the survival of the fittest in the struggle for existence.

Hominization Process: The process by which humans emerged from other living beings, transforming from animal to human. This process primarily focused on the feet, hands, and head.

Exploring Reality and Knowledge

Metaphysics: Encompasses the questions and problems arising from physical reality that extend beyond the scope of individual sciences.

Neo-Darwinism (Synthetic Theory): This theory explains the variations between individuals and the process of speciation (the emergence of new species) through small, random genetic changes (mutations) acted upon by natural selection.

Philosophy: Humanity's moral and rational capacity to address the problems and situations encountered daily. It is valuable and necessary because it seeks to shed light on and reflect upon specific individuals, problems, and everyday situations to contribute to greater reflection and organization within humanity.

Knowledge: Mastering the information available at a given time, enabling correct action. Two types of knowledge exist:

• Disinterested Knowledge: Seeks to understand reality as it is.
• Knowledge for Application: Seeks practical applications of knowledge.

Encephalization: Increased brain capacity without a corresponding increase in body or cranial size.

Key Traits and Structure of Philosophy

Traits of Philosophy

• Emphasis on Questions: Questions are more important than answers.
• Second-Order Inquiry: Seeks to understand the meaning of reality, going beyond the subject itself.
• Critical Thinking: Accepts nothing without prior rational examination, acknowledging that any knowledge can be reviewed and rejected (anti-dogmatic attitude).
• Totalizing and Integrative Knowledge: Philosophy aims to integrate everything humans can think and rationalize (scientific laws).

Philosophy's Relationship to Other Disciplines

• Science: Philosophy is not science but must consider scientific findings.
• Religion: Based on subjective belief and faith. It uses reasonable arguments but doesn't rely solely on reason.
• Literature: Constructs fictional stories and characters.
• Myth: Ahistorical, sacred, relevant to a community, and irrational.

Structure of Philosophy

• Theoretical Philosophy: Studies human beings, reality, and knowledge.
  • Anthropology: What is man? Are we or do we have a body?
  • Metaphysics: What is reality? What exists?
  • Metaphilosophy: What is philosophy? What is its function?
  • Epistemology: What is knowledge? What is truth?
• Practical Philosophy: Studies the purpose of the universe and human actions.
  • Ethics: What should I do? Who decides?
  • Aesthetics: What is art? What are beauty?
  • Social and Political Philosophy: How should we live? What are the best political systems?

The Rise of Rational Discourse

Rational discourse originated with the Greeks, who believed in the power of reason. They explained the world based on natural elements. Sophism replaced belief or faith with reason, emphasizing coherent arguments and the need for evidence. This was a triumph for humanity, as explanations of nature shifted from gods and supernatural forces to reason.

Synthetic Evolution Theory

The synthetic theory of evolution unfolds in two phases:

1. The origin of hereditary variation.
2. Natural selection, with two mechanisms:
   1. Mutation: The emergence of a new variant.
   2. Sexual Reproduction: Recombination of genetic variation in sex cells.

Distinguishing Human Features

Bipedal locomotion, birth type, sexual development, freed hands, extended childhood, sexual behavior, language, social and cultural nature of food preparation.

Shared Traits of Humans and Primates

Opposable big toe, flat face, stereoscopic and polychromatic vision, reduced sense of smell, a tendency toward encephalization, small number of offspring per birth, prolonged childhood, and complex social behavior.

Understanding Evolutionary History

Phylogeny: The evolutionary history of a specific group of individuals.