Neoteric evolutionary theory

The Neoteric theory of human evolution outlines how a ‘revisiting’ of the evolutionary theory proposed by Charles Darwin as it applies to humans may give new insight into human origins.
It takes as its starting point the kind of evidence from studies in animal behavior that might indicate a smooth progression or continuum from primate behavior to that of the human. Rather, Neoteric theory suggests that these studies, in attempting to emphasize similarities in types of behavior that may indicate degrees of intelligence of a human type, should instead concentrate on dissimilarities.
Neoteric theory thus seeks to demonstrate that discontinuity in the supposed ‘gradient’ of intelligence is more instructive. Birds (for example New Caledonian crows) have their own, specialized ‘intelligence’. Primates such as apes and chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans and gorillas demonstrate different behavioural strategies, reflecting primate-type intelligence. Dolphins, whales, finches and all other species are ‘intelligent’ in the sense that refined mental architecture defines highly effective and specialized behavior driven by the niche they occupy.
Human intelligence, reflected in highly complex behaviour, also effectively serves to define the human species. The elusive ‘continuum’, if it exists, is perhaps simply the result of anthropocentric enthusiasm.
Part of the apparent need for humans of all cultures to identify with animals and imbue them with human characteristics indicates that anthropocentricity may be a factor influencing behavioural studies. The need to identify ‘intelligence’ in animals is perhaps questionable from this perspective - certainly it is not reciprocated.
Neoteric theory proposes that this discontinuity, the lack of a smooth measureable curve in degrees of mental behavior, reinforces the notion that ‘intelligence’ exists in humans in an entirely different form, singularly characteristic of human behavior, unique to Homo sapiens and ancestor species.
Further, the theory proposes that evidence of tool use in animals does not reflect the kind of intelligence demonstrated by human behaviour; that the nature of the ‘tools’ involved needs to be further considered and suggests a new classification for those used by other animals; as extemporary tools. Those typically employed by humans also suggests a new classification; manifest tools.
Current first evidence of manifest tools, those being distinctly human, appears to demonstrate early fabrication of stone implements in the Rift Valley of Africa, near Olduvai Gorge, discovered by Sonia Harmand and her associates. These are from rocks bearing early dates confirmed by the ‘signature’ within the worked material of the periodic reversal of the polarity of the Earth’s magnetic field. This indicates the tools were fabricated around 3.3 million years ago.
Neoteric theory proposes that evidence of association with manifest tools alone is both sufficient to define Homo sapiens and their presence as a separate species at a date far earlier than 3.3 million years. In his work on abductive reasoning, Professor Lorenzo Magnani at the University of Pavia provides a logical opening to suggest that stone tools have their precursors in materials subject to rapid decay.
Such tools might include wooden implements and articles made of fibre for which physical evidence is missing, including woven bark strips, leather and animal fur. The presence in contemporary cultures of non-stone tools currently in use alongside those of materials of long duration, add support to the Neoteric theory and the need to revise the currently supposed evolutionary trajectory of the human.
Obviously, following the path of abductive logic, stone tools were not the first tools, rather, these were wooden grubbing sticks, baskets, sieves, fish traps, wooden skewers, leather straps and fibrous cord.
The first date for tool use among early humans is thus pushed back far beyond the 3.3 million years that is now the first ‘marker’ for human ingenuity. There may be extant (long-lived) cultures that, having no stone implements, demonstrate a wealth of intelligence through the production of manifest tools not dependant on stone (or metal) and whose complex behavior reflects refined reasoning, a rich repertoire of belief, profound artistic expression and complex language.
While biochemistry indicates a strong chromosomal link between humans and other species, especially primates - our DNA of is a near-perfect match (98%) with the chimpanzee. Meanwhile, our behavioural profile is radically different from both primates and all other species.
Humans are the single species dominating the biosphere. Neoteric Evolutionary Theory proposes a single mechanism in an attempt to reconcile the apparently contradictory evidence of close proximity and wide divergence of human and other species.
The Recall Paradigm was first proposed in 2012 suggests that it is a unique ability in humans to recall events at will that led first to the manifest tools, those we assume preceded the type of stone implements of Lomekwi 3, and later to wholesale re-organisation of habitat now characteristic of, and serves to define, Homo sapiens.
Neoteric theory does not propose a single ‘site’ for ‘recall’ ( Tulving’s episodic memory) within human mental architecture. Nor can it support theories of brain cavity size or shape as evidence for the development of human intelligence; many humans with very small cranial volume produced exquisite, advanced tools, in particular Homo floresiensis.
It may be that the classification system for hominid species from bone fragments can be discarded if it can be agreed that the presence of manifest tools is the key element in defining with certainty the presence of Homo sapiens.
As Darwin wrote: " ..it is solely the comparison, with past ideas, which makes consciousness." (notebook M - 103)
Thus, Darwin states - though only here in this obscure aside - that human evolution is not simply an aspect of the physical adaptation of species to demanding changes in the niche. He tacitly acknowledges that standard evolutionary theory does not apply to humans. Humans exhibit consciousness - manifestly
Physical characteristics make Pan and Homo species versatile and robust. Long accepted mechanisms of evolution that dwell on physical characteristics however, miss a crucial aspect of evolution as exemplified by the human; mental architecture also can evolve, though this did not occur to Darwin or later theorists.
Mental architecture, according to Neoteric theory, is the main evolutionary driver of the hominid species, offering behavioural leverage that made further physical development redundant. The theory invokes recall as the prime mover of human evolutionary trajectory; for example, by providing the means to enable humans to carry water, thereby extending the effective foraging range, for example.
A further example of consciousness impinging upon the natural environment is the blaze; markers that have no influence within the niche. Though environmentally neutral, these may affect non-human species. Humans predate them more effectively by identifying routes to favoured sites by way of markers significant only to the human.
As we see in every aspect of human behavior, in whatever environmental context, the niche in manipulated to suit the needs of the human. In other species development is restricted to the slow Darwinian process of adaptation in response to environmental pressure and especially competition among species and between species for resources within a niche.
Humans are characterized, it seems, by the mental ability to shape the niche according to their predicted needs, to adapt both the niche itself and their response; to utilize the physical properties found therein to produce the tools needed, in turn, to exploit resources in an ‘unnaturally’ rewarding manner.
On occasion, given recall, tools themselves become redundant. In arranging stones in a stream to form a convenient pool to trap live fish, humans demonstrate through recall as grasp of causal relations - the flow of events - in a manner unique to this single species. Evolution itself could be said to have evolved with the advent of Homo sapiens and a repertoire of behavior, ‘in the abstract’, derived from recall.

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