Human beings have spread to every continent, sometimes driving other animal species to extinction in the process.
Human
beings
have
spread
to
every
continent
,
sometimes
driving
other
animal
species
to
extinction
in
the
process
.
It has become the most widely spread species on the planet, occupying mountains and valleys, deserts and jungles, shorelines and islands, yet always finding some good means of living in these widely differing environments.
It
has
become
the
most
widely
spread
species
on
the
planet
,
occupying
mountains
and
valleys
,
deserts
and
jungles
,
shorelines
and
islands
,
yet
always
finding
some
good
means
of
living
in
these
widely
differing
environments
.
The total weight of all living members of the species is far heavier than that of any other animal, and the human population is now growing so rapidly that it will double within the next thirty-five years.
The
total
weight
of
all
living
members
of
the
species
is
far
heavier
than
that
of
any
other
animal
,
and
the
human
population
is
now
growing
so
rapidly
that
it
will
double
within
the
next
thirty-five
years
.
What accounts for the success of our species?
What
accounts
for
the
success
of
our
species
?
The answer, in a word, is culture.
The
answer
,
in
a
word
,
is
culture
.
We create culture, but culture in turn creates us.
We
create
culture
,
but
culture
in
turn
creates
us
.
We are consequently no longer the victims of the environment.
We
are
consequently
no
longer
the
victims
of
the
environment
.
We make our own social environment, inventing and sharing the rules and patterns of behaviour that shape our lives and we use our learned knowledge to make the natural environment more suitable to live in.
We
make
our
own
social
environment
,
inventing
and
sharing
the
rules
and
patterns
of
behaviour
that
shape
our
lives
and
we
use
our
learned
knowledge
to
make
the
natural
environment
more
suitable
to
live
in
.
Our shared culture is what makes social life possible.
Our
shared
culture
is
what
makes
social
life
possible
.
Without a culture transmitted from the past, each new generation would have to solve the most basic problems of human existence over again.
Without
a
culture
transmitted
from
the
past
,
each
new
generation
would
have
to
solve
the
most
basic
problems
of
human
existence
over
again
.
It would have to think up a family system, to invent a language, to discover fire, to create the wheel, and so on.
It
would
have
to
think
up
a
family
system
,
to
invent
a
language
,
to
discover
fire
,
to
create
the
wheel
,
and
so
on
.
Culture frees us from relying on the slow and accidental process of physical evolution by offering us a new, purposive, efficient means of adapting to changing conditions.
Culture
frees
us
from
relying
on
the
slow
and
accidental
process
of
physical
evolution
by
offering
us
a
new
,
purposive
,
efficient
means
of
adapting
to
changing
conditions
.
If we waited for natural selection to enable us to live at the North Pole, to fly to the moon, or to live under the sea, we would wait forever.
If
we
waited
for
natural
selection
to
enable
us
to
live
at
the
North
Pole
,
to
fly
to
the
moon
,
or
to
live
under
the
sea
,
we
would
wait
forever
.
Unlike other animals, we can self-consciously adapt to our environments and can adapt environments to meet our own needs.
Unlike
other
animals
,
we
can
self-consciously
adapt
to
our
environments
and
can
adapt
environments
to
meet
our
own
needs
.
Human beings have spread to every continent, sometimes driving other animal species to extinction in the process. It has become the most widely spread species on the planet, occupying mountains and valleys, deserts and jungles, shorelines and islands, yet always finding some good means of living in these widely differing environments. The total weight of all living members of the species is far heavier than that of any other animal, and the human population is now growing so rapidly that it will double within the next thirty-five years.  What accounts for the success of our species? The answer, in a word, is culture. We create culture, but culture in turn creates us. We are consequently no longer the victims of the environment. We make our own social environment, inventing and sharing the rules and patterns of behaviour that shape our lives and we use our learned knowledge to make the natural environment more suitable to live in. Our shared culture is what makes social life possible. Without a culture transmitted from the past, each new generation would have to solve the most basic problems of human existence over again. It would have to think up a family system, to invent a language, to discover fire, to create the wheel, and so on.  Culture frees us from relying on the slow and accidental process of physical evolution by offering us a new, purposive, efficient means of adapting to changing conditions. If we waited for natural selection to enable us to live at the North Pole, to fly to the moon, or to live under the sea, we would wait forever. Unlike other animals, we can self-consciously adapt to our environments and can adapt environments to meet our own needs.