Because of this need to bond, Y. M. Harari in his book ‘Sapiens’ observed that the number of individuals in a group did not exceed more than one or two dozen. They survived relying on instinct. They hunted and gathered, but did not plant nor plan. Some learned to use stones or sticks as tools.
But then occurred a monumental event: a two legged animal species underwent an unprecedented change around 70,000 years ago. Harari calls this event the cognitive revolution. This species developed the ability to grasp abstract concepts – and that made them different than all other animals - they became us. We were different even than other bipedal animals such as Neanderthals, and we had a major leg up on all other living creatures. And we knew it.
This new ability allowed us to develop and accept concepts that had no physical form that could be touched or felt: existence after physical death, supernatural beings that we thought controlled our environment. For such imagined beings or concepts we developed symbols and icons as a shorthand for these concepts. With this ability we contemplated what may have been and what might be. We developed sophisticated means of communications. Different groups codified their beliefs to become religions that we use to bind us into groupings vastly greater than those possible before the cognitive revolution. We no longer depend on personal relationships to form alliances.
Täismahus artikkel on loetav Eesti Elu tellijatele
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