Genesis of Symbolic Thought (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781107651098)

Symbolic thought is what makes us human. Claude L vi-Strauss stated that we can never know the genesis of symbolic thought, but in this powerful new study Alan Barnard argues that we can. Continuing the line of analysis initiated in Social Anthropology and Human Origins (Cambridge University Press, 2011), The Genesis of Symbolic Thought applies ideas from social anthropology, old and new, to understand some of the areas also being explored in fields as diverse as archaeology, linguistics, genetics and neuroscience. Barnard aims to answer questions including: when and why did language come into being? What was the earliest religion? And what form did social organization take before humanity dispersed from the African continent? Rejecting the notion of hunter-gatherers as 'primitive', Barnard hails the great sophistication of the complex means of their linguistic and symbolic expression and places the possible origin of symbolic thought at as early as 130,000 years ago.

Author: Alan Barnard
ISBN-10: 1107651093
ISBN-13: 9781107651098
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 07/30/2012
Pages: 208
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.90w x 0.40d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2014