Language and Cultural Evolution

Along with biological evolution, humans are driven by cultural evolution as well. Cultural evolution is based on the desire to pass on ideas and ways of life. For biological, or genetic, evolution DNA and genes are seen as the transmission unit. Cultural evolution is also referred to as memetic evolution because memes, "packets of information" are the units that are passed on. Richard Dawkins (1976), author of The Selfish Gene, coined the term meme as the cultural analogs to gene; they carry information about the world, just as DNA does for the one-celled organism.

The rapid evolution of the size and capacity of the human brain is believed to be associated with the evolution of language, speech, and more complex culture. Language is one of the major advantages humans have over the rest of the animal kingdom. Through time, humans have developed the ability to use words, nouns, verbs and other parts of speech to create sentences. Language has given humans the ability to vocalize their thoughts and share with their offspring and rest of their species. The emergence of language led to abstract thought and the abstract world.

The evolution of language allowed for the development of symbolic representation and more social interaction, which in turn led to a more complex world. Seth Lloyd (2006), a professor at M.I.T., goes as far to say, "With language, our ancestors were able to create their own environment - we now call it culture - and adapt to it without the need for genetic change." Additionally, language allows for humans to connect and bond at a different level than any other animal species. This both increased social complexity and forged stronger relationships amongst humans. As social relationships increased and became more complex, the brain’s size and other capacities increased.