Social uses of technology and Human Evolution:
Despite my primary activity role and duty in the IPHES (more than 80% of my working time) is the assistance to IPHES’ staff, to prospect new broad research boundaries and to assist in planning projects and grant applications; I’m interested in questions concerning the Human Social Evolution through our technological history focused on these aspects:
As a result, I submitted my PhD in 2012. The main aim of this PhD was twofold. On the theoretical side, tried to summarise and clarify some of the terminology surrounding the 'socialization' concept and how it relates to some topics in Paleoanthropology. On the empirical side, the PhD attempted to apply this concept to some questions of Social evolution in Human Evolution from the Paleolithic Archaeology.
My particular interest is to set the role of socialization through technology in a broad sense as a driving force in human progress and development in an evolutionary perspective. In a more restricted sense I suppose that socialization by technology has become a driving force in the evolution of all species of genus Homo.
The concept of ‘socialization’ raises the possibility of a broad range of different approaches from psychology (cross-cultural studies), social anthropology, sociology, etc. However, my research interest focuses on the role of technology as agent of socialization through human history.
Homo sapiens, the only extant species of the genus Homo, shares common behavioural patterns with other extant members of our lineage. However, if we focus on the differences over the similarities, maybe we can sharpen better the knowledge in our evolution.
All the subsequent species of our genus increased their sociality and cooperation, increasing their technology. Here, we show a set of archaeological published data to frame the increase of cooperation in early Homo.
We suggest that almost at 1.8 Ma the genus Homo begun the development of its very special ultra-sociality behaviour. However, being equipped with technological skills, our ancestors probably created an unprecedented form of socialization based on technology.
Social use of technology, and specifically socialization through technology, raises interesting topics regarding the emergence of new technologies, and corresponding social reorganization of Homo communities in changing behaviours, but also social, cultural and economic strategies to enhance our humanity.
Therefore one of my big challenges is how to narrow down these ideas systematically to enquire into human socialization through technology. So, not hesitate to contact me if you have any suggestion concerning these topics.