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The Thinking Ape: The Evolutionary Origins of Intelligence » (1st Edition)

Book cover image of The Thinking Ape: The Evolutionary Origins of Intelligence by Richard Byrne

Authors: Richard Byrne
ISBN-13: 9780198522652, ISBN-10: 0198522657
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: March 1995
Edition: 1st Edition

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Author Biography: Richard Byrne

University of St Andrews

Book Synopsis

This text describes how human ancestors reached the point in cognitive evolution from which the evolution of modern humans was possible. Rather than speculating about the mental abilities of fossil hominids, on the basis of modern human psychology, the author explores earlier phases of evolution, with the more solid and testable evidence of human ancestry that is still alive: modern primates and other animals.

Table of Contents

1Introduction: the limits of fossil evidence3
2How to reconstruct evolutionary history9
3What is intelligence and what is it for?31
4How animals learn45
5Why animals learn better in social groups54
6Imitative behaviour of animals64
7Understanding how things work83
8Understanding minds: doing and seeing, knowing and thinking100
9What use is a theory of mind?119
10Planning and thinking ahead146
11Apes and language162
12Food for thought177
13Machiavellian intelligence195
14Testing the theories210
15Taking stock222
References235
Index247

Subjects