Class 11:00 am - 1:18 pm TR General Arts Bldg G116 Jan 31, 2023 - May 08, 2023
Clarification of two items on Test 2
Iconographic signs vs Iconography
The definition of iconographic signs that I gave in class is a drawing or picture of what it represents. A picture or drawing of a dog is not a dog BUT, it resembles or looks like or is similar to a dog.
A definition of iconography that I believe some students got from books articles or the internet is a bit different than this. ( I am not criticizing going to other sources on the word “iconography” or “iconographic”) . For example, one student gave as an example a dove, olive branch or “V” fingers representing peace. In this class these are actually _symbolic_ signs, because a dove or olive branch or fingers in a “v” shape are not Peace _and_ they do not resemble or nor look like nor are similar to Peace. They are using something to represent something they are not , and do not _resemble_ what they represent. This is also true of a “heart” representing “love” . A heart is not physically similar to love. In old thought the feeling of love was thought to be located in the heart , not the brain, but hate is also located in the heart in the idea.
Use of a lamb to represent Jesus may be a bit more complex. A lamb representing Jesus is actually a _sacrificed_ lamb representing Jesus as a sacrifice of God. So , the _sacrifice_ of the lamb does resemble or look like or is similar to the _sacrifice_ of Jesus. It is a metaphor or analogy. So, the sacrifice can be said to be an iconographic sign of the sacrifice.
A)Random genetic mutation relative to the adaptive problem it solves vs B) Random meaning every gene in the genome has equal chance of mutating
A )randomness is the in the context of Darwinian _evolutionary adaptation to a problem in the environment_. Mutations that solve adaptive problems are _not caused by the adaptive problem they solve. Therefore they are random relative to the adaptive problem they solve.
B) randomness is not specifically in the context of a Darwinian adaptive problem. These mutations occur regardless of whether or not the species is dealing with an adaptive problem in its environment.
The LaMarckian inheritance of acquired characteristics is a false hypothesis. It doesn’t happen. But it the acquired characteristic ( longer neck for the giraffe acquired in its lifetime) is not random relative to the adaptive problem it solves (food too high up for short neck); it is caused by the problem it solves.
With language and culture , humans have a non-random LaMarckian -LIKE mechanism of adaptation; not exactly the same as LaMarck’s false hypothesis, but giving the problem solving its own solution aspect of LaMarck’s hypothesis, therefore LIKE , but not identical to LaMarck’s hypothesis.
Thus language and culture give humans a more efficient adaptive mechanism than all other animals, because , we have a mechanism wherein potentially adaptive problems cause their own solution - Homo erectus inventing control of fire being caused by colder climate, and the colder climate problem causing its own solution, for example. Other species must rely on a genetic mutation for , maybe, more fur, which is not caused by the colder climate, but on randomly, coincidently, by happenstance arises in the colder climate
Ultimate test of Darwinian fitness is population growth or shrinking
On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 10:35 AM Charles Brown
Anthropology 152
Discussion 16 Next semester, Spring 2023, I will be teaching 2 Anthropology 153 classes: Introduction to Physical Anthropology - 45531 - ANT 153 – 501 Class 1:00 pm - 3:18 pm MW Eastern 306 Jan 31, 2023 - May 08, 2023 Introduction to Physical Anthropology - 36448 - ANT 153 – 603 – Northwest Campus Class 11:00 am - 1:18 pm TR General Arts Bldg G116 Jan 31, 2023 - May 08, 2023 Clarification of two items on Test 2 Iconographic signs vs Iconography The definition of iconographic signs that I gave in class is a drawing or picture of what it represents. A picture or drawing of a dog is not a dog BUT, it resembles or looks like or is similar to a dog. A definition of iconography that I believe some students got from books articles or the internet is a bit different than this. ( I am not criticizing going to other sources on the word “iconography” or “iconographic”) . For example, one student gave as an example a dove, olive branch or “V” fingers representing peace. In this class these are actually _symbolic_ signs, because a dove or olive branch or fingers in a “v” shape are not Peace _and_ they do not resemble or nor look like nor are similar to Peace. They are using something to represent something they are not , and do not _resemble_ what they represent. This is also true of a “heart” representing “love” . Use of a lamb to represent Jesus may be a bit more complex. A lamb representing Jesus is actually a _sacrificed_ lamb representing Jesus as a sacrifice of God. So , the _sacrifice_ of the lamb does resemble or look like or is similar to the _sacrifice_ of Jesus. It is a metaphor or analogy. So, the sacrifice can be said to be an iconographic sign of the sacrifice. A)Random genetic mutation relative to the adaptive problem it solves vs B) Random meaning every gene in the genome has equal chance of mutating A )randomness is the in the context of Darwinian _evolutionary adaptation to a problem in the environment_. Mutations that solve adaptive problems are _not caused by the adaptive problem they solve. Therefore they are random relative to the adaptive problem they solve. B) randomness is not specifically in the context of a Darwinian adaptive problem. These mutations occur regardless of whether or not the species is dealing with an adaptive problem in its environment. The LaMarckian inheritance of acquired characteristics is a false hypothesis. It doesn’t happen. But it the acquired characteristic ( longer neck for the giraffe acquired in its lifetime) is not random relative to the adaptive problem it solves (food too high up for short neck); it is caused by the problem it solves. With language and culture , humans have a non-random LaMarckian -LIKE mechanism of adaptation; not exactly the same as LaMarck’s false hypothesis, but giving the problem solving its own solution aspect of LaMarck’s hypothesis, therefore LIKE , but not identical to LaMarck’s hypothesis. Thus language and culture give humans a more efficient adaptive mechanism than all other animals, because , we have a mechanism wherein potentially adaptive problems cause their own solution - Homo erectus inventing control of fire being caused by colder climate, and the colder climate problem causing its own solution, for example. Other species must rely on a genetic mutation for , maybe, more fur, which is not caused by the colder climate, but on randomly, coincidently, by happenstance arises in the colder climate
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