Human Nature, Society, and the Evolution of Culture

The Cultural Animal: Human Nature & Culture

The study of human nature begins with its biological constitution. However, a necessary opening to culture gives rise to what we call the cultural animal. Cultural adaptation introduces an effective way of providing symbolic language and techniques, which allow for orientation in the world. The world of culture diminishes the fear of the accidental and unintended.

Understanding the Concept of the Individual

An individual is any complete being that belongs to a species. This term is often used synonymously with 'human being' because each human is unique and unrepeatable.

Individualism and Its Societal Limits

According to the theory of possessive individualism, every person owns their own being and capabilities, owing nothing to society. Society, in this view, is merely a set of individuals who interact through the exchange of goods and services.

Humans: Sociable by Nature? Aristotle's View

This position, championed by Aristotle, states that 'man is a political animal,' inherently sociable by nature. Society is seen as a natural necessity for humans to align with their own abilities and thrive.

Living in Society: Natural Need or Social Contract?

Conversely, some theories argue that living in society is not a requirement of nature. Instead, society is viewed as an artificial construct that emerged to make coexistence possible, albeit precarious yet inevitable. It is the result of an agreement between humans to avoid struggle against each other.

Thomas Hobbes: Man as a Wolf to Man

Thomas Hobbes famously declared, 'Man is a wolf to man.' He believed that each individual is driven by their own selfishness and is in permanent conflict with others. To escape this state, humans agree to live under a solid authority to maintain peace.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Natural Piety

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in contrast, posited that natural man, when alone, is moved by natural piety – meaning he is good by nature.

Cultural Anthropology: Understanding Human Groups

Cultural anthropology explores the ways human groups live and the evolution they have experienced. It takes into account not only material aspects but also analyzes culture as symbolic, showing us the way to interpret reality.

Early Human Societies: Upper Paleolithic Era

In the Upper Paleolithic era, around 35,000 years BC, societies were largely egalitarian. They were based on hunting and gathering, with an economy dominated by exchange and reciprocity. The 'boss' was typically a man of experience who advised and assisted his peers.

The Rise of States: From Primitive to Complex Societies

The transition from primitive societies to the state required new conditions: a centralization of power, increased social stratification, a clear division of functions, urban development, inequality in the distribution of wealth, and remarkable cultural growth.