The second evolution: after the genes the cultural birth

Abstract

The development and evolution of the human mind–brain system occur through various mechanisms. The first is that of the prolongations of axons and dendrites. The second is that of the signals received from the environment. Following the gradual increase of the number of synaptic connections, the third is that of the auto-organization and the selection of the neural networks. According to Fodor, the mind–brain system can be divided into two types of faculties, indicated as vertical and horizontal, respectively. The neural networks of the vertical faculties are (1) genetically programmed, (2) largely predictable and (3) non-chaotic. The neural network of the horizontal faculties, on the other hand, is (1) not genetically determined and non-predictable, (2) developed by means of auto-organization processes and (3) obeying to the principles of the determinist chaos. The genes operate largely by means of imprinting mechanisms, which may lead to extensive acquisition of new knowledge and changes in behaviour. The cultural learning begins to emerge after the first year of life. Imitating, manipulating and speaking are three activities, well used by the human beings, which are essential for the development of the human behaviour. The learning of the language begins after the second year of life and proceeds at least up to the age of ten. The effect of imprinting is particularly striking for the learning of language. The capacities to move hands, fingers, tongue, mouth and larynges, are all localized in the Broca area: the genes are then necessary not only for the use of language, but also for the movement of mouth, hands and fingers, all damaged by lesions of the Broca area. Dawkins has emphasized the role of some specific natural entities, indicated as memes, which act as units of cultural–neural communication and are responsible for the transmission and diffusion of their informational content: everything learned by means of copying or imitating, may be then considered as product of the memes. The generation and transmission of information, by DNA and neural networks, have very different properties. The genetic birth, due to DNA, occurs mostly within the first year of life, whereas the cultural birth, due to the activities of the neural networks, lasts during the whole life and reflects the personal history of each individual. I suggest that everything attributed to the memes must be considered to be due to the neural networks, possessing the replicators’ properties of heredity, variation and selection. These networks are, then, the structures responsible for the transmission of information. Religion principles and scientific knowledge stem from two different conceptions of the world structure of nature. Many religions defend a static and determinist interpretation (1) realized once forever and (2) not subject to evolutionary changes. The scientific knowledge defends a dynamic and non-predictable interpretation of the world structure, in that it is opened to continuous modifications and evolutions. The scientific explanation of the natural world is based on (1) the atomistic conception and (2) the second principle of thermodynamics. The atomistic conception is based on the view that (1) all material entities, whether living or non-living, are made of smaller components, denoted as atoms and (2) the knowledge of these components is essential to explain the macroscopic properties. The second principle of thermodynamic explains the effects of the production and the consumption of energy. In most organized, natural, structures—whether genetic or physical or social—the efficiency of the system may be increased with the increase of complexity. Also the human societies may improve their efficiencies by shifting continuously toward increased, more specialized and complex specialization.