The Symbolic Species: Difference between revisions
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{{Expert-subject-multiple|Books|Philosophy/Philosophy of mind|date=March 2007}} |
{{Expert-subject-multiple|Books|Philosophy/Philosophy of mind|date=March 2007}} |
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{{Infobox Book |
{{Infobox Book |
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| name = The Symbolic Species: The |
| name = The Symbolic Species: The Co-evolution of Language and the Brain |
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| translator = |
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| author = Terrence W. Deacon |
| author = Terrence W. Deacon |
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| country = |
| country = USA |
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| language = |
| language = English |
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| series = |
| series = |
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| subject = Language, Co-evolution, Symbolic representation, Human evolution, Genesis of language, Cognition |
| subject = Language, Co-evolution, Symbolic representation, Human evolution, Genesis of language, Cognition |
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'''The Symbolic Species''' (published 1997) is a |
'''The Symbolic Species''' (published 1997) is a book by [[Biological anthropology|biological anthropologist]] [[Terrence Deacon]] on the [[Origin of language|evolution of language]]. Combining perspectives from neurobiology, evolutionary theory, linguistics, and [[semiotics]], Deacon proposes that language, along with the unique human capacity for symbolic thought, co-evolved with the brain. |
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The Symbolic Species is a multi-disclipinary book that at the time of publishing was seen as groundbreaking. It is considered to have bound together a wide array of ideas in a way that advanced the understanding of professionals in several fields. |
The Symbolic Species is a multi-disclipinary book that at the time of publishing was seen as groundbreaking. It is considered to have bound together a wide array of ideas in a way that advanced the understanding of professionals in several fields. |
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Revision as of 08:02, 9 February 2011
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Template:Expert-subject-multiple
| Author | Terrence W. Deacon |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Language, Co-evolution, Symbolic representation, Human evolution, Genesis of language, Cognition |
| Genre | Science |
| Publisher | W.W. Norton & Co |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Publication place | USA |
| ISBN | 0-393-03838-6 |
| OCLC | 35025924 |
| 153.6 20 | |
| LC Class | QP399 .D43 1997 |
The Symbolic Species (published 1997) is a book by biological anthropologist Terrence Deacon on the evolution of language. Combining perspectives from neurobiology, evolutionary theory, linguistics, and semiotics, Deacon proposes that language, along with the unique human capacity for symbolic thought, co-evolved with the brain.
The Symbolic Species is a multi-disclipinary book that at the time of publishing was seen as groundbreaking. It is considered to have bound together a wide array of ideas in a way that advanced the understanding of professionals in several fields.
Core ideas
Symbolic thought and language
The reasons for the unique cognitive capacity of humans are explored, along with those for why many human activities are impossible for animals. Human use of language is said to be responsible for both.
Co-evolution
A chicken-and-egg problem is shown to exist between the emergence of symbolic thought and language: language is said to be the medium of symbolic thought, but it is reasoned that mastery of language would first require the ability to think symbolically. The solution of this chicken-and-egg problem, according to Deacon, is the subtle evolutionary process of co-evolution.