Human Perception, Action, and Culture: An Anthropological Overview

Human Perception

The animal perceives reality as a set of stimuli triggering responses, for example: thirst + water = drinking. Sensory receptors include exteroceptors (hearing) and interoceptors (kinesthetic, cenesesico, labyrinthine).

Consciousness and Its Characteristics

Consciousness is awareness of thoughts, actions, and feelings. Key features include:

• Relational: The relationship with ourselves and our surroundings.
• Intimacy: A being seeking to understand the world by retreating into their own interiority.

Human Action and Freedom

Freedom has two dimensions:

• First Dimension: Humans are freed from the tyranny of stimuli and can decide their behavior.
• Second Dimension: The power to choose between several possibilities. Our choices define our personality.

What Freedom Is Not

• Doing the impossible, as we have finite possibilities.
• Absence of responsibilities; we are responsible for ourselves and others, whether we like it or not.
• Not having to explain; human action requires justification.
• Lacking needs; our needs empower us to act freely.
• Doing only what pleases us in the here and now; this neglects our desires and the passage of time.

The Dual Nature of Culture

• Culture is the set of knowledge and social skills.
• Culture encompasses knowledge, codes of behavior, technological resources, etc., developed by a community over time.

Introduction to General Anthropology

Paleolithic Eras

Lower Paleolithic

Technological advancements begin.

Middle Paleolithic

Mousterian tools associated with Neanderthals appear, including spear points.

Upper Paleolithic

Aurignacian

Characterized by increased production of ivory, antler, and bone implements, personal ornaments, figurines, and paintings. This period coincides with the disappearance of Neanderthals.

Aurignacian is a period characterized by a significant increase in the production of implements of ivory, antler, and bone, as well as a growing number of personal ornaments, figurines, and paintings.

In later Upper Paleolithic phases (Magdalenian), blades and other stone tools developed as a craft. Needles for fur garments, harpoons, hooks, bows, and arrows were invented. Upper Paleolithic cave art served religious and theatrical purposes. In Southern Russia, cultures specialized in hunting. The Mesolithic era is characterized by adaptation to the sea and the domestication of dogs.

Hominin Evolution and Tool Cultures

• Homo habilis: Oldowan culture (Mode 1, single-sided stone tools)
• Homo erectus: Acheulean culture (Mode 2, bifacial stone tools)
• Neanderthals: Mousterian culture (Mode 3, bone spears)
• Homo sapiens: Aurignacian culture