Cultural tools replaced anatomy, so natural selection weakened human bodies
Evidence
It was culture. As cumulative cultural evolution generated increasingly effective tools and weapons, like blades, spears, axes, snares, spear-throwers, poisons, and clothing, natural selection responded to the changed environment generated by these cultural products by shaping our genes to make us weak. Manufactured from wood, flint, obsidian, bone, antler, and ivory, effective tools and weapons can replace big molars for breaking down seeds or fibrous plants and big canines, strong muscles, and dense bones for fighting and hunting. — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 235
Categorization
- XREF: Connects to the geneculture coevolution thesis the whole book develops, and echoes the ‘tools domesticate our bodies’ theme. — connects to: Human digestive organs are dramatically undersized for our body compared to other primates — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 221; Cooking evolved culturally and reshaped human digestive anatomy and function — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 224; Culture-driven cooking let natural selection shrink gut tissue to fund bigger brains — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 233 (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- Culturally transmitted skills created selection pressures shaping human anatomy and physiology
#corroborates(0.85) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 313 - Natural selection built cultural learning that can overwrite innate preferences
#complicates(0.82) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 365 - Cultural evolution can create selection pressures stronger than natural ones
#expands(0.78) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 282 - Cultural learning skills drove rapid human adaptation across all habitats
#corroborates(0.76) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 125 - Cultural learning can transmit behaviors that natural selection eliminates.
#qualifies(0.74) — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success, 185