Like many other species, human beings share a culture, that is, a set of knowledge and behaviors passed down from generation to generation. But what makes this human culture so special? Why does human culture seem infinitely more powerful, flexible and evolving than that of other species? Recently, Thomas Morgan, an evolutionary anthropologist at Arizona State University, proposed a fascinating new hypothesis to explain this distinction: human openness, that is, our unique ability to imagine a number infinite combinations and possibilities. This hypothesis challenges the classic idea that only the accumulation of knowledge distinguishes our species.
Culture and transmission: a point in common with the animal world
For a long time, scientists believed that this ability to transmit knowledge was unique to humans, but research into animal behavior shows that other species also possess this know-how. For example, chimpanzees learn from their parents to use tools to extract termites from a tree trunk and they then pass this technique on to their young. Among humpback whales, songs evolve and become more complex over generations, even spreading from one group to another, much like musical fashions among humans.
Even some insects are affected. This is particularly the case for leaf-cutter ants. The latter do not feed directly on the leaves they harvest. Instead, they cut up pieces of leaves, bring them back to their colony and use them to feed a fungus that they cultivate in their underground galleries. This fungus grows through the decomposition of leaves and forms a sort of fungal garden. This garden then produces nutrients that the ants feed on.
When a new founding queen leaves her colony to start a new colony, she takes a small piece of this fungus with her, often in a special pouch in her mouth or mandibles. Once established, it uses this mushroom to start cultivation in the new colony. This transmission of the fungus from queen to queen has lasted for millions of years. It is so old and stable that the fungus in leafcutter ant colonies is now genetically distinct from wild strains, having co-evolved only with ants.
But then, if many animal species also transmit and adapt their culture, what makes human culture so different? Evolutionary anthropologist Thomas Morgan of Arizona State University offers a new hypothesis.
What makes human culture unique: the notion of openness
According to Thomas Morgan, the element that distinguishes human culture from others is our openingor our ability to consider and plan for a wide range of possibilities in their actions. This means that humans can imagine complex, interlocking steps to achieve an end goal, then adapt and perfect those steps as needed. To better understand, let's take the example of preparing breakfast again. When a parent prepares a meal for their children, they must:
- Take out the necessary utensils (bowls, spoons, pans, etc.).
- Measure the ingredients and mix them in a specific order.
- Cook them, monitoring the temperature and texture.
- Finally, he adjusts the cooking so that the final result is perfect according to the children's tastes and preferences.
Each step is a sub-objective : we first need the utensils, then measure the ingredients, then monitor the cooking and so on. In addition, each step requires adjustments and sometimes trials to obtain the desired result. This type of reasoning ordered and adjustable sequences requires great intellectual flexibility.
In this specific example, openness here means that humans can imagine intermediate steps to reach an end goal, adapt these steps according to unforeseen situations or even create new sequences, then combine them in new ways. This capacity allows humans to invent, improvise and create new things constantly.
Accumulation and evolution of culture: when the limits are pushed by humans
Human culture is also distinguished by its almost unlimited accumulation potential. In animal culture, we sometimes see examples of cultural accumulation, but it ends often by stagnating. In chimpanzees, tool use, while impressive, remains relatively unchanged across generations. Even if they enrich their songs, whales do not introduce radical musical evolutions from one generation to the next.
In contrast, human culture can not only evolve, but also be enriched indefinitely, because we are able to rethink, adapt and combine old knowledge to create new ones. Our ancestors first invented the wheel, then ways to optimize it to create modern vehicles. From controlling fire, we have moved to electricity, microwaves and renewable energy. In other words, we have built civilizations based on accumulated knowledge.
It is this open imagination that allows humans to constantly push the boundaries, while although they sometimes accumulate knowledge, animal cultures often hit evolutionary ceilings. This culture is constantly enriched, creating a virtuous circle where each generation is capable of going further than the previous one.
Perspectives and implications for humans
This new hypothesis about human cultural openness sheds new light on our understanding of human nature. It highlights the particularity of our species, capable not only of transmitting and modifying behavior, but also of imagining new scenarios and constantly expanding the field of possibilities. According to the researchers, this ability could explain why humans were able to build civilizations, invent languages, religions and even sciences.
Naturally, this capacity for openness seems directly linked to the size and complexity of our brain. Researchers agree that the human brain, particularly our prefrontal cortex (the area that handles planning, decision-making and complex reasoning), plays a key role in our ability to think in terms of interlocking steps and long-term goals.
By better understanding this human specificity, we could not only deepen our own understanding of cultural evolutionbut also we ask essential questions about our future. How will our culture continue to evolve with the advent of artificial intelligence, robotics and new technologies? This hypothesis about our capacity for openness could also inspire research to understand how to create systems that mimic human adaptability.
