17. Emergence of Culture

In language, sounds are interpreted into words. The rules for this are part of the language relating to the set of sounds available. We learn these sound combinations through life. If we are literate we also can do this interpretation with written words. The words are then interpreted into phases by other language rules, such as nouns, verbs, prepositions, and how these are to be combined. We then hang these phrases together into a sentence that ultimately can allow us to make sense out of a communication. At each step the reduction in complexity brought on by the use of rules allows a limitation on the possibilities and this creates the path for emergence of meaning in language.

In culture the same process is related to the rules for a good story, and the stories that have emerged from those rules. Everyday activities are recognized as relating to story parts. Then these story parts are combined into stories, which we may already be familiar with or may be similar enough to those stories based on the rules for story making in the culture. Then stories are hung together to create meaning out of our everyday activities. Again at each step there is a reduction in complexity brought on by the rules of a good story which allows a limitation on the possibilities and thus creates a path for emergence of meaning.

Each culture has its own rules for making stories, which are similar, like the rules for language, but are not exactly the same. And each culture has its own set of stories that have been developed over time. It is only through our stories that we can make sense out of our daily life; and then make up new but similar stories that continue to confirm the culture. The stories, even though they change with time, guarantee continuity of the culture by reusing previous stories, or by following the rules for a good new story in the culture.

The genetics of culture is in the stories we tell.

Jerome Heath