Re: Altruism: hardwired

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

I haven't been following this thread closely, and I'm involved in too
many things to give it much thought, The following, therefore, is a mere
observation, not a developed argument.

I would reject any theory of the origins of language -- or the
interpretation of language as it is used today -- which gave central
place to communication or practicality. The core usage of language is
_phatic_, a means of recognizing each other's humanity. Practical uses
for communication, storage of knowledge, etc. flow from this fundamental
use.* This is what gives interest to Ian Tattersall's speculation that
language was (a) invented by children, not adults, and (b) probably was
invented/reinvented a number of times in various localities before it
"caught on" among the adult population and its more focused
possibilities began to be explored.

Speculations on the origins of language are highly interesting, and can
lead to greater understanding (even if wrong) of current questions about
human thought, but I just can't take seriously (a) any argument that
claims to _prove_ a theory of origins or (b) uses such a premise as
evidence for general statements about humans today.

Carrol

*Clearly e-mail lists appeal primarily to phatic uses of language.