Handy Man—Part 2

The development of tools and weapons is an example of the incredibly fast pace of human cultural evolution—it's been an exponential rate of growth, where today's technology will be outdated by next week's advances. The problem that stems from this fast cultural evolution is the fact that our biological evolution has been far, far slower. Biologically we are barely different from our Homo habilis forebears, yet hold in our hands weapons of wholesale destruction. Our ability to kill has far outstripped our ability for self-control.

The closest extant ape species to humans are chimps and bonobos—and are even more closely related to each other. We humans and the chimps are warlike critters who attack and kill our own kind (as well as other species) with intent. We kill each other, not for food, but out of fear and enmity. We both can be violent creatures, who consciously plan and execute war. Chimps will form raiding parties that invade neighboring groups' territories. Woe be unto any solitary male chimp they sneak up on: they will mercilessly slaughter and dismember the loner; leaving the body, to move on, hoping to abscond with females.

The bonobos are not anywhere near as violent as chimps and humans. They promote peace through sexual acts and by the policing of bands of matriarchs. It seems as if humans and chimps have a few things to learn from our more placid cousins the bonobos.

Some people are likely to counter, “But wait... there are many examples of violence in nature, aren't there?” Hasn't Tennyson accurately labeled nature's creatures as “red in tooth and claw”? Doesn't much of our literature and scriptures describe the beasts of the forest as cruel brutes who wantonly kill each other? Aren't their menacing weapons—big teeth, antlers, claws—used by them to wreak havoc and death?

Well, yes, they do a lot of killing, but it is overwhelmingly for food—not warfare. Even animals who have imposing weapons rarely use them to kill. Consider the elk, which is outfitted with formidable antlers. To begin with, they are herbivores, so they do not kill their food with their head-mounted weapons. Their antlers are used to joust with each other for the right to mate with females. When they square off, however, each spends a good deal of time slowly walking around his opponent—sizing him up. That may be enough right there to decide the winner, as the smaller one will think again and leave the area. If not, they will face each other with lowered head and seek to intimidate each other. At worst, they will butt heads a bit, until one backs off and retreats. Joust over. With those intimidating antlers they could do much damage—goring each other to death—but they don't.

It is rare in nature to see one animal kill another of its species—accept in extreme reproductive competition. They seem to have some check on their violent feelings, that almost always stop them from actually fighting... a form of check that seems to be lacking in chimps and humans.

Scientists don't yet understand the source of aggression that we warlike humans possess—but by observing the same behavior in chimps, it suggests that our warlike propensity is probably genetically inherited. Our DNA—being 98% identical to theirs—suggests we have some similar genes that lead to these tendencies to be aggressive and violent. It is extraordinary that bonobos—even more closely related to chimps than we are—are not warlike at all. It must be due to some genetic difference they have. Perhaps further study will someday shed light on the issue.

In the meantime, we are in real danger, as our weapons have far outstripped our genetic ability to curb our violence. There are signs that humans are gradually becoming less violent and maybe even are even evolving emotionally—as well as culturally—to become less brutal. Can we get there before our frightening weapons continue to get used?

Handy Man—Part 1

The first bipedal critter to warrant the moniker handy man was the species Homo habilis (Latin for “handy man”). It prospered in Africa about two million years ago. They were called that because they were the first of our precursors to develop simple stone flake tools. These tools were a significant advance over the implements used by their forebears (mostly some sort of bludgeon), and allowed them to improve their diet, as well as better defend themselves on the savannas of Africa.

Homo habilis had a brain about half the size of ours, but that was a significant increase over the various ape-like species that preceded them. Habilis was the smartest ape of its time. (They lived concurrently with other closely-related species of bipedal apes.) Habilis—the toolmaker handyman—had not yet invented the formidable weapons that follow-on pre-humans would, so they still did not occupy the top predator slot in Africa. They remained occasional meals for fierce animals like lions and tigers. But their improving tools were on the way to making them dominant.

Handy man's succeeding species was Homo erectus, which later led directly to us. Homo erectus (“upright man”) further developed tools and even may have used fire to cook. It lived in groups that were the predecessor to bands of human hunter-gatherers.

This evolving process of our ancestors becoming increasingly skilled tool makers and weapons forgers led directly to Homo sapiens becoming the dominant species on planet Earth. These implements, conceived of by our growing brain and manipulated by our erect posture and very dexterous hands, made us the formidable critters we've become. There's been an increasingly rapid evolution of tools ever since—right up to our current sophisticated machines and robots of today. Our tools have made us top dog.

The first tools of Homo habilis were used to cut up meat, to break bones to get at the nourishing marrow, and thus diversify their diet beyond fruits and insects. When Homo erectus took the next step by manufacturing weapons, it could begin to assume the top predatory spot on the savanna. Spears and arrows enabled them to confront the fiercest animal.

Those early weapons were employed primarily for hunting, but they were also useful to attack or defend themselves from other roving bands of pre-humans—who were looked upon as alien critters that must be confronted and conquered. The tribal circle was very small and when another band was encountered, it was regarded to be as threatening as any other large predator.

Our weapons have continued to evolve and have become truly daunting. While our modern tools may have served us well, it's another story for our modern weapons. We now possess the power to inflict massive harm and kill many thousands of people at one blow... and we do. Our weapons of mass destruction—nuclear bombs, chemical weapons, drones, and similar armaments—can do damage far beyond what our ancestors could ever have imagined.

More on tools and weapons next time...