Humans, like many other species, share a culture—an ensemble of knowledge and behaviors passed down through generations. But what makes human culture so unique? Why does it seem infinitely more powerful, flexible, and evolutionary than that of other species? Recently, Thomas Morgan, an evolutionary anthropologist at Arizona State University, proposed a fascinating new hypothesis to explain this distinction: human openness, our unique ability to imagine an infinite number of combinations and possibilities. This hypothesis challenges the traditional notion that only the accumulation of knowledge distinguishes our species.
Culture and Transmission: A Shared Trait with the Animal Kingdom
For a long time, scientists believed that the capacity to transmit knowledge was unique to humans. However, research on animal behavior shows that other species also possess this capability. For example, chimpanzees learn from their parents how to use tools to extract termites from tree trunks and subsequently teach this technique to their offspring. Humpback whale songs evolve and become more complex over generations, spreading from one group to another, much like musical trends among humans.
Even some insects are involved. Take leafcutter ants, for instance. These ants do not directly consume the leaves they gather; instead, they cut pieces of leaves, bring them back to their colony, and use them to nourish a fungus they cultivate in their underground tunnels. This fungus thrives on the decomposition of the leaves, forming a kind of fungal garden. When a new founding queen leaves her colony to establish a new one, she takes a small piece of this fungus with her, often in a special pouch in her mouth or mandibles. Once settled, she uses this fungus to kickstart her new colony. This transmission of the fungus from queen to queen has been ongoing for millions of years. It is so ancient and stable that the fungus in leafcutter ant colonies is now genetically distinct from wild strains, having co-evolved solely with the ants.
So, if many animal species also transmit and adapt their culture, what set human culture apart? Evolutionary anthropologist Thomas Morgan from Arizona State University offers a new hypothesis.
What Makes Human Culture Unique: The Concept of Openness
According to Thomas Morgan, the element that distinguishes human culture from others is our openness, or our ability to envision and plan a wide range of possibilities in our actions. This means that humans can imagine complex and nested steps to achieve a final goal, then adapt and refine these steps based on needs. To illustrate, let’s consider preparing breakfast. When a parent prepares a meal for their children, they must:
- Gather the necessary utensils (bowls, spoons, pots, etc.).
- Measure the ingredients and mix them in a precise order.
- Cook them while monitoring temperature and texture.
- Finally, adjust the cooking process to ensure the end result aligns with the children’s tastes and preferences.
Each step is a sub-goal: first, we need utensils, then to measure the ingredients, next to supervise the cooking, and so forth. Moreover, each step requires adjustments and sometimes experimentation to achieve the desired outcome. This type of reasoning in ordered and adjustable sequences demands significant intellectual flexibility.
In this specific example, openness means that humans can envisage intermediate steps to reach a final goal, adapt these steps to unforeseen situations, and even create new sequences, combining them in unprecedented ways. This ability allows humans to constantly invent, improvise, and create new things.
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Accumulation and Evolution of Culture: Pushing Boundaries
Human culture is also characterized by its potential for almost limitless accumulation. In animal culture, instances of cultural accumulation are sometimes observed, but these often plateau. For example, while chimpanzees’ tool use is impressive, it remains relatively unchanged over generations. Even though they enrich their songs, whales do not introduce radical musical evolutions from one generation to the next.
In contrast, human culture not only evolves but can expand infinitely, as we can rethink, adapt, and combine old knowledge to create new ideas. Our ancestors first invented the wheel and later optimized it to create modern vehicles. From mastering fire, we transitioned to electricity, microwaves, and renewable energies. In other words, we have built civilizations upon accumulated knowledge.
This imaginative openness allows humans to continually push boundaries, while although animal cultures sometimes accumulate knowledge, they often hit ceilings of evolution. Human culture enriches itself continuously, creating a virtuous circle where each generation is capable of surpassing the previous one.
Perspectives and Implications for Humanity
This new hypothesis about human cultural openness sheds light on our understanding of human nature. It highlights our species’ uniqueness, capable not only of transmitting and modifying behaviors but also of imagining unprecedented scenarios and continuously broadening the realm of possibilities. Researchers believe this capacity may explain why humans have been able to build civilizations, invent languages, religions, and even sciences.
Naturally, this capacity for openness seems directly linked to the size and complexity of our brains. Researchers agree that the human brain, particularly our prefrontal cortex (which governs planning, decision-making, and complex reasoning), plays a key role in our ability to think in terms of nested steps and long-term goals.
By better understanding this human specificity, we might not only deepen our comprehension of cultural evolution but also raise critical questions about our future. How will our culture continue to evolve with the advent of artificial intelligence, robotics, and new technologies? This hypothesis concerning our capacity for openness might also inspire research aimed at understanding how to create systems that emulate human adaptability.
Creativity as the Engine of Human Culture
Human openness goes beyond merely imagining new scenarios. It is accompanied by a burgeoning creativity that transforms our visions into concrete realizations. This creativity forms the foundation of art, science, technology, and social innovations, allowing us to transcend the immediate limitations of our environment and devise solutions for complex challenges. While other species adapt to their environment by adjusting their behaviors, humans redefine the rules of the game. For instance, in the face of gravitational constraints, we have invented airplanes, rockets, and space stations. Each cultural advancement rests upon this unique dynamic of creativity and openness, which is continually reinforced through individual exchange and collaboration. Thus, humanity progresses not linearly but through spectacular leaps, fueled by an ever-renewing collective imagination.