Reflection Paper#2: Read in "Frames, Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts" the section on paradigms and paradigm shifts. Discuss the article's position on how man's various inventions have changed the way he thinks, learns and sees the world. What do you think?
Throughout the history of mans evolution is a record of paradigm shifts. A paradigm is a type of belief or understanding about something that shapes the way you see and act toward things. For instance, the old conviction that the earth was flat was a paradigm. People would not sail too far out to sea because they thought that they would fall off the edge of the earth. People continued to live in fear until scientists and explorers changed their paradigm and proved that the earth was round. Many changes in paradigms, or paradigm shifts have occurred in the history of human evolution.
Human development was greatly influenced by the use of tools. The first tools created and used by Homo Habilis were the hammer stone, the flake scrapper, flake and the heavy duty scrapper. Man was not at the top of the food chain, man saw the world as scavengers, traveling about, feeding form the land. The point of view of a scavenger changed for man when he was able to create more sophisticated tools. Homo Habilus now saw the world through the paradigm of a hunter. Man now viewed animals as prey and took the role as predator. Man could now grow stronger with the new protein in his diet, and he could stay warmer by wearing clothes made from the skins of his hunt.
The next step in the evolution of man came with Homo Erectus. Man could now create even more sophisticated tools, like the hand axe and sharp edged flakes that allowed man to hunt larger game. As the Homo Erectus's brains became larger their babies developed more slowly, requiring up to five years of close parental care. Also, the women began having mostly only one child at a time, leaving more time for special attention from the mother. Homo Erectus was also the first to create or manipulate natural fires. Man could now see at night, survive colder climates and eat cooked meals. The men would hunt and protect the family while the women cooked and took care of the children. Man was now seeing and living life from a more domesticated point of view.
In time, Homo Erectus evolved into Genus Homo. Genus Homo improved communication past simple grunts and gestures with the help of a better memory. The enriched memory of man also led to the ability to process thoughts, ideas, and goals. In addition, man had now learned how to farm, making the establishment of cities possible. Consequently, man invented writing, a fortified form of communication. Writing preserved and spread culture over a large amount of people. Writing allowed man to become smarter by reading the lessons of others. Writing recorded life and all of its successes. The capability of higher communication, abstract thinking and farming gave way to yet another paradigm shift. The perspective of a farmer, Man now experienced deeper thoughts, became smarter through the invention of writing and shared and spoke with fellow man.
Mans various inventions and achievements have shaped the way he sees and functions in the world. Man went from seeing the world as a scavenger, as a hunter, as a farmer , to finally as a civilized person. I believe that mans creations have sculpted his paradigms and caused every shift along the way. The past of mans evolution is filled with many paradigm shifts.
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