Download The Beginning of Man

The Beginning of Man
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AMPORN W. TAMRONGLAK, PH.D.
FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY
Documentary media on
“Origin of Human”
The evolution of human being
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History of Man
SPECIES
Ardipithicus ramidus
Australopithecus anamensis
Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus africanus
Australopithecus robustus
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Homo sapiens archaic
Homo sapiens neandertalensis
Homo sapiens sapiens
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TIME PERIOD
5 to 4 million years ago
4.2 to 3.9 million years ago
4 to 2.7 million years ago
3 to 2 million years ago
2.2 to 1.6 million years ago
2.2 to 1.6 million years ago
2.0 to 0.4 million years ago
400 to 200 thousand years ago
200 to 30 thousand years ago
200 thousand years ago to present
Time Line of Ancestral Animal Species
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Primate Tree
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What does the evolution produce?
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Charles Darwin
 In 1831, "Charles Darwin"
sailed as a passenger on
the HMS Beagle. His fiveyear voyage took him to
the coasts of South
America, where he
observed various kinds of
animals and plant. One set
of creatures in particular,
the Galapagos finches,
caught Darwin's attention.
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 He studied the birds, collected samples, and
observed that they had various beak sizes and
shapes.
 These observed variations inspired the initial
development of Darwin's "Theory of Origins."
 He returned to England in 1836.
Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
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 All life is related and has descended from a common
ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fish and the
flowers -- all related.
 Darwin's general theory presumes the development
of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic
(undirected) "descent with modification".
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 Complex creatures evolve from more simplistic
ancestors naturally over time.
 As random genetic mutations occur within an
organism's genetic code, the beneficial mutations are
preserved because they aid survival -- a process
known as "natural selection."
Darwin’s Natural selection theory
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 Natural selection acts to preserve and accumulate
minor advantageous genetic mutations.
 Natural selection is the preservation of a functional
advantage that enables a species to compete better in
the wild. It is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic
breeding.
 Breeders eliminate undesirable traits gradually over
time. Similarly, natural selection eliminates inferior
species gradually over time.
How did Thomas Malthus influence
Charles Darwin?
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 Charles Darwin was influenced by
many writers, scholars,
philosophers, and friends.
 One of his influences was Thomas
Robert Malthus, a late-eighteenth
century economist. Malthus wrote
"Essay on the Principle of
Population" (1798)
What is Social Darwinism?
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 Herbert Spencer, a 19th century philosopher,
promoted the idea of Social Darwinism. Social
Darwinism is an application of the theory of natural
selection to social, political, and economic issues.
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 In its simplest form, Social Darwinism follows the
mantra of "the strong survive," including human
issues. This theory was used to promote the idea
that the white European race was superior to others,
and therefore, destined to rule over them.
 At its worst, the implications of Social Darwinism
were used as scientific justification for the
Holocaust. The Nazis claimed that the murder of
Jews in World War II was an example of cleaning
out the inferior genetics.
 Many philosophers noted evolutionary echoes in
Hitler's march to exterminate an entire race of
people.
 The example of “Lebensborn Programme”, set up
by SS leader Heinrich Himmler. It was restricted to
individuals who were deemed to be "biologically fit"
and "racially pure", "Aryans", and to SS members.
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 Various other dictators and criminals have claimed
the cause of Social Darwinism in carrying out their
acts.
 Even without such actions, Social Darwinism has
proven to be a false and dangerous philosophy.
 Scientists and evolutionists maintain that this
interpretation is only loosely based on
Darwin's theory of natural selection. They will
admit to an obvious parallel between Darwin's
theory of Natural Selection and Spencer's
beliefs.
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 In nature, the strong survive and those best suited to
survival will out-live the weak. According to Social
Darwinism, those with strength (economic, physical,
technological) flourish and those without are
destined for extinction.
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 It is important to note that Darwin did not extend his
theories to a social or economic level, nor are any
credible evolutionists subscribing to the theories of
Social Darwinism. Herbert Spencer's philosophy is
only loosely based on the premises of Darwin's work.
 However, according to evolutionary
theory, nature is a "kill-or-be-killed"
system. Those that cannot keep up are
either left behind or cut off. If
evolution, through chance, is solely
responsible for life as we now know it,
why should that process be
countered?
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 If "survival of the fittest" or "kill or be killed" cannot
apply in what we define as "decent society," then,
which is wrong, society or evolution? If neither, then
how do we explain morality, charity, and
compassion? Why drain resources from the strong to
support the weak? Certainly, we should be charitable
and help those in need.
Punctuated equilibrium vs.
Gradual Change
Punctuated Equilibrium
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 Niles Eldredge (a paleoanthropologist) and
Stephen Jay Gould (polymath)
 Evolution is characterized by long periods of
relative stability that are punctuated by sudden
changes, followed by more stability, followed by
more changes, and so on. (periodic sudden large
change)
 The changes in environment cause species to
diversify and specialize into several new niches,
creating new lineages.
Graph Depicts Punctuated Equilibrium
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http://anthro.palomar.edu/synthetic/images/graph_of_punctuated_equilibrium_2.gif
Gradual Change
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 Peter Sheldon discovered the gradual change in of
the number of ribs the trilobites contained over time.
What does the evolution produce?
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The Debate over the Gradualism and Punctuated
Equilibriums
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 Both theories claim that they can explain the gaps in the fossil
record. The Gradualism theory states that the fossil record is
incomplete and that it is unlikely that all stages of evolution
would be preserved let alone found. However there have been a
few species that show Gradualism through the fossil record.
Humans for example.
 Punctuated Equilibrium claims the gaps in the fossil record are
not just missing links but the actual process of evolution. They
claim that the evolution happens too rapidly to be found in a
fossil record. As shown before this has been proven countless
times from T rexes to shell fish.
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So in the after math what theory holds true?
In the present it is still difficult to decide which
statement is true concerning the gaps in the fossil record
since a limited number of fossils have been collected and
recorded. Research is ongoing today and possible in the
next few hundred years we may have an answer. But
remember these are both just theories and one or both
could be proven wrong.
Quiz I