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Humans and Humanities Humans and Humanities The Biological Dimension The Biological Dimension

Humans and Humanities

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Describes the biological capacity for culture and the humanities.

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Page 1: Humans and Humanities

Humans and HumanitiesHumans and Humanities

The Biological DimensionThe Biological Dimension

Page 2: Humans and Humanities

The Human in HumanitiesThe Human in Humanities

• However we define humanities, the However we define humanities, the central figure is the human, central figure is the human, Homo Homo sapienssapiens

• According to the Greek philosopher According to the Greek philosopher Protagoras, Protagoras,

• ““Man is the measure of all things”Man is the measure of all things”

• What about, might we ask, about What about, might we ask, about woman? Is she not the measure of all woman? Is she not the measure of all things, too?things, too?

• There is much about humans that go There is much about humans that go into the field of humanitiesinto the field of humanities

• Sex is one: but there is much else that Sex is one: but there is much else that we will elaborate on.we will elaborate on.

Page 3: Humans and Humanities

What Did Protagoras Mean?What Did Protagoras Mean?

• ““Man is the measure of all things” has been Man is the measure of all things” has been interpreted in various ways. interpreted in various ways.

• Most humanists see the quote that the only Most humanists see the quote that the only perceiver of reality are humans themselvesperceiver of reality are humans themselves

• In this view, there are no gods or eternal truths.In this view, there are no gods or eternal truths.• What is true is relative to the perceiver: an What is true is relative to the perceiver: an

example is “is it hot or cold in this room?” So tell example is “is it hot or cold in this room?” So tell me. Is it hot or cold? Or are you Goldilocks and me. Is it hot or cold? Or are you Goldilocks and the temperature is just right?the temperature is just right?

• Protagoras also advocated agnosticism; he didn’t Protagoras also advocated agnosticism; he didn’t know whether there were gods or not.know whether there were gods or not.

• A sophist whom Plato (and Socrates) despised, he A sophist whom Plato (and Socrates) despised, he was an easy targetwas an easy target

• Plato saw all phenomena as subject to an ideal Plato saw all phenomena as subject to an ideal that the gods had designed themselves, so he that the gods had designed themselves, so he had no love for Protagoras, a relativist and an had no love for Protagoras, a relativist and an agnostic.agnostic.

Page 4: Humans and Humanities

Meaning of Meaning of Homo sapiensHomo sapiens

• It means “Man who is wise”It means “Man who is wise”• Wise enough, I suppose, to make nukes—but I Wise enough, I suppose, to make nukes—but I

digressdigress• It is worth noting that traditionally, It is worth noting that traditionally,

androcentrismandrocentrism has dominated the humanities has dominated the humanities• Homo sapiensHomo sapiens goes back to our ability to think, goes back to our ability to think,

communicate, make toolscommunicate, make tools• And our human form begins with bipedality—our And our human form begins with bipedality—our

ability to stand and walk on two feetability to stand and walk on two feet• Defining who we are and how we got here is the Defining who we are and how we got here is the

first order of business. first order of business.

Page 5: Humans and Humanities

So What Are We As So What Are We As Humans?Humans?• We have We have language:language: no language, no culture, no language, no culture,

nothing for the humanities to studynothing for the humanities to study• We have We have symbols:symbols: we can represent ideas and we can represent ideas and

events by something else, such as music, visual events by something else, such as music, visual arts, literature—and language itselfarts, literature—and language itself

• We have We have tool making and usingtool making and using abilities: how abilities: how else could we make or play an instrument, paint a else could we make or play an instrument, paint a picture, write a play or philosophical treatise?picture, write a play or philosophical treatise?

• We are We are bipedalbipedal, and whatever else we may , and whatever else we may portray humankind as, she and he always can portray humankind as, she and he always can stand and walk on two feet.stand and walk on two feet.

Page 6: Humans and Humanities

Trends in Human Anatomy: Trends in Human Anatomy: Cultural CapacitiesCultural Capacities

• Language:Language:• BrainBrain: Lower Motor Cortex, Broca’s: Lower Motor Cortex, Broca’s Area, Area,

Wernicke’s Area, Angular GyrusWernicke’s Area, Angular Gyrus• Speech TractSpeech Tract: Lungs, Oral and Nasal Cavity: Lungs, Oral and Nasal Cavity• Tool Making and Use:Tool Making and Use:• Brain: Upper Motor CortexBrain: Upper Motor Cortex• Other Areas: Hand, Fingers, and ArmOther Areas: Hand, Fingers, and Arm• Bipedalism: Bipedalism: • The entire skeletonThe entire skeleton

Page 7: Humans and Humanities

We Start with the Human We Start with the Human SkullSkull

• These bones protect the center of our behavior—our These bones protect the center of our behavior—our brainbrain

• And our culture, in both senses of the word:And our culture, in both senses of the word:• Who we are as Americans, or Greeks, or RomansWho we are as Americans, or Greeks, or Romans• And the arts and literature that make up the And the arts and literature that make up the

humanities. humanities.

Page 8: Humans and Humanities

Language and Related Language and Related Centers in BrainCenters in Brain

1. Broca’s Area:1. Broca’s Area: Center of Speech Center of Speech

2. Occipital Lobe:2. Occipital Lobe: Center of Vision Center of Vision

3.3. Wernicke’s AreaWernicke’s Area: Center of : Center of speech reception speech reception

4. Motor Cortex4. Motor Cortex: Language and : Language and tool making and usetool making and use

5.5. Frontal LobeFrontal Lobe: Center of : Center of thinkingthinking

6.6. Auditory Cortex:Auditory Cortex: Center of Center of hearinghearing

77. . Angular Gyrus:Angular Gyrus: Center of Center of sensory coordinationsensory coordination

Page 9: Humans and Humanities

Brain Structure: LanguageBrain Structure: Language

• Broca’s Area: Speech ProcessingBroca’s Area: Speech Processing• Wernicke’s Area: Speech ReceptionWernicke’s Area: Speech Reception• Arcuate Fasciculus: Nerves Connecting Arcuate Fasciculus: Nerves Connecting

Broca’s with Wernicke’s AreaBroca’s with Wernicke’s Area• Angular Gyrus: Interconnection among Angular Gyrus: Interconnection among

the five senses; so we can translate all the five senses; so we can translate all senses into the sound we call senses into the sound we call language.language.

• So language begins with the brain So language begins with the brain

Page 10: Humans and Humanities

Vocal Tract and Language: Repiratory System

• Lungs provide the airstreamLungs provide the airstream• Intercostal muscles expand Intercostal muscles expand

and contract the lungsand contract the lungs• Diaphragm does the same Diaphragm does the same

thingthing• Trachea: the windpipeTrachea: the windpipe• Pharynx: The space between Pharynx: The space between

the oral cavity and the larynxthe oral cavity and the larynx• Epiglottis: flap of muscle that Epiglottis: flap of muscle that

prevents food from entering prevents food from entering the tracheathe trachea

• Every singer knows this Every singer knows this anatomyanatomy

Page 11: Humans and Humanities

Vocal Tract and Language: Oral Vocal Tract and Language: Oral CavityCavity

• The oral cavity is where The oral cavity is where language is articulatedlanguage is articulated

• The tongue is the most The tongue is the most important part of speech important part of speech articulationarticulation

• Language is derived from Language is derived from the Latin meaning the Latin meaning “tongue”“tongue”

• Consonants: sounds that Consonants: sounds that stop or constrict the stop or constrict the airstream.airstream.

• Vowels: the sounds that Vowels: the sounds that resonate. resonate.

Page 12: Humans and Humanities

Motor Cortex and FunctionMotor Cortex and Function

• Notice how much space Notice how much space is taken up by the facial is taken up by the facial muscles (lower), muscles (lower), reflecting the ability to reflecting the ability to speakspeak

• Notice how much space Notice how much space of the motor cortex is of the motor cortex is taken up by the hands taken up by the hands and fingers, reflecting and fingers, reflecting the importance of hand the importance of hand and finger manipulationand finger manipulation

Page 13: Humans and Humanities

Hand Bone StructureHand Bone Structure• Note the followingNote the following• Flexible fingersFlexible fingers• Opposable thumbOpposable thumb• That allows for making fine That allows for making fine

manipulations. manipulations. • Below Left: The power grip Below Left: The power grip

for using hammer and axesfor using hammer and axes• Below Right: the precision Below Right: the precision

grip (using thumb and grip (using thumb and forefingers) for finer work forefingers) for finer work like using a pen or like using a pen or screwdriversscrewdrivers

Page 14: Humans and Humanities

What Are the Products of What Are the Products of Language and Tool Use?Language and Tool Use?

• Upper left: Writing requires a Upper left: Writing requires a precision gripprecision grip

• It also requires the ability to It also requires the ability to translate speech into visual formtranslate speech into visual form

• Lower Left: Music itself is a Lower Left: Music itself is a language of sortslanguage of sorts

• It involves combining pitch in an It involves combining pitch in an aesthetic patternaesthetic pattern

• And you need an ability to And you need an ability to manipulate to play a violinmanipulate to play a violin

• You need tool-making abilities You need tool-making abilities to make a violin, and its bowto make a violin, and its bow

Page 15: Humans and Humanities

Bipedalism: The Human Bipedalism: The Human SkeletonSkeleton

• Notice the following:Notice the following:

• Vertical backbone or Vertical backbone or vertebraevertebrae

• Hands freed from Hands freed from locomotionlocomotion

• Short, bowl-shaped Short, bowl-shaped pelvispelvis

• Inward-angling Inward-angling thighbone (femur)thighbone (femur)

• Arched foot Arched foot

Page 16: Humans and Humanities

Compare This Fine Fellow to Compare This Fine Fellow to Zeus, Boss of the Greek Gods:Zeus, Boss of the Greek Gods:

• As you will see in the arts, gods are often made in the As you will see in the arts, gods are often made in the image of men (Oh, yes, and women too; I think we call image of men (Oh, yes, and women too; I think we call them goddesses, but I could be wrong. )them goddesses, but I could be wrong. )

Page 17: Humans and Humanities

Of Course, This Biped Gets Of Course, This Biped Gets ReligionReligion

• Here we see a bare-Here we see a bare-bones version of a bones version of a prayer positionprayer position

• This image actually This image actually comes from Hawaiicomes from Hawaii

• It could just as well It could just as well come from Europe—or come from Europe—or North AmericaNorth America

• Seriously, folks—Seriously, folks—religion too is part of religion too is part of the humanitiesthe humanities

Page 18: Humans and Humanities

What Comprises Bipedalism: What Comprises Bipedalism: What Congress LacksWhat Congress Lacks

• First, you have an S-shaped backbone First, you have an S-shaped backbone or or vertebraevertebrae

• The top part is nearest the neck, the The top part is nearest the neck, the cervical vertebraecervical vertebrae

• The middle part is back of the ribs, the The middle part is back of the ribs, the thoracic vertebraethoracic vertebrae

• The lowest part bears most of the The lowest part bears most of the upper body weight, the upper body weight, the lumbar lumbar vertebraevertebrae

• The The sacrum sacrum and the and the coccyx coccyx comprise the lowest partcomprise the lowest part

• That keeps us upright when standing That keeps us upright when standing or walkingor walking

Page 19: Humans and Humanities

What Comprises Bipedalism: What Comprises Bipedalism: The PelvisThe Pelvis

• Note the followingNote the following• The overall pelvis is bowl The overall pelvis is bowl

shaped.shaped.• The The iliumilium supports the supports the

body and is an important body and is an important area of thigh muscle area of thigh muscle attachmentsattachments

• The The pubispubis forms the forms the front part of the pelvisfront part of the pelvis

• The The IschiumIschium form the form the back base and provides back base and provides more attachments for more attachments for thigh muscles. thigh muscles.

Page 20: Humans and Humanities

What Comprises Bipedalism: What Comprises Bipedalism: The FemurThe Femur

• Notice how the Notice how the femur angles inward femur angles inward from the pelvisfrom the pelvis

• It provides more It provides more support for the bodysupport for the body

• It enables us to walk It enables us to walk more comfortablymore comfortably

Page 21: Humans and Humanities

What Comprises Bipedalism: What Comprises Bipedalism: Oh Yes, The FeetOh Yes, The Feet

• Notice the followingNotice the following• We have two archesWe have two arches• The longitudinal arch The longitudinal arch

extends from the first extends from the first metatarsal (Inmost foot metatarsal (Inmost foot bone)bone)

• And goes to the heelbone And goes to the heelbone (calcaneus)(calcaneus)

• The transverse arch goes The transverse arch goes from the instep to the outer from the instep to the outer bone. bone.

• This gives us absolute This gives us absolute stability when we stand and stability when we stand and walk walk

Page 22: Humans and Humanities

Attributes We Share with Other Attributes We Share with Other SpeciesSpecies

• We come in two sexes.We come in two sexes.• Therefore, we come in two genders—Therefore, we come in two genders—

the cultural interpretations of the the cultural interpretations of the sexes.sexes.

• Like other animals, we compete and Like other animals, we compete and fight. (Here are Aphrodite and Mars fight. (Here are Aphrodite and Mars [not] getting along)[not] getting along)

• Like other animals, we bear offspringLike other animals, we bear offspring• Like other animals, we grow and Like other animals, we grow and

developdevelop• And like other animals, we die (below; a And like other animals, we die (below; a

modern motif of an old symbol)modern motif of an old symbol)• All these are addressed in literature, All these are addressed in literature,

history, even religionhistory, even religion

Page 23: Humans and Humanities

What Does All This Have to Do What Does All This Have to Do with the Humanities?with the Humanities?

• Glad you asked!Glad you asked!• First, dance, Greek, medieval, or First, dance, Greek, medieval, or

modern emphasizes the human formmodern emphasizes the human form• Second, the brushes we use, the Second, the brushes we use, the

musical instruments we play, all musical instruments we play, all involve the dexterity that comes with involve the dexterity that comes with the ability to make and use tools.the ability to make and use tools.

• Third, the literature we compose, the Third, the literature we compose, the laws we pass (or endure), the religions laws we pass (or endure), the religions we believe in, are all symbolic, and we believe in, are all symbolic, and ultimately lead to language. ultimately lead to language.

• Even the gods (and goddesses—Even the gods (and goddesses—below, of Aphrodite) are created in our below, of Aphrodite) are created in our image.image.