The First Idea

How Symbols, Language, and Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans

Stuart Shanker author Stanley Greenspan author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Hachette Books

Published:7th Feb '06

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The First Idea cover

In the childhood of every human being and at the dawn of human history there is an amazing and, until now, unexplained leap from simple genetically programmed behaviour to language, symbolic thinking, and culture. In The First Idea , Stanley Greenspan and Stuart Shanker explore this missing link and offer brilliant new insights into two longstanding questions: how human beings first create symbols and how these abilities evolved and were transmitted across generations over millions of years. From fascinating research into the intelligence of both human infants and apes, they identify certain cultural practices that are vitally important if we are to have stable and reflective future societies.

ISBN: 9780306814495

Dimensions: 228mm x 153mm x 30mm

Weight: 696g

512 pages