Browse Hierarchy ANTH6008: Cognitive Evolution

How did the human mind evolve? This most fascinating of questions is the subject of this module. Grounded in the study of the fossil and archaeological records, this module will adopt a multidisciplinary aproach, drawing on recent developments in fields such as evolutionary psychology, cognitive science, philosophy, linguistics and primatology. The module will explore the nature of human intelligence, charting and evaluating the evidence for the development of key cognitive traits such as language, culture, tool use and symbolism. We will also assess the cognitive abilities of other animal species, evaluating the evidence for differences between human and non-human minds.