The Principles of Biosocial Evolution and the Main Morphological Innovations in Anthropogenesis

The theoretical reconstruction of the mechanisms of the main morphological changes in anthropogenesis is carried out on the basis of combining the principles of biological and social evolution. A. Toynbee's “challenge-response” scheme and A. Stinchcombe's “homeostatic variable - providing structure - costs and tensions that generate new needs and concerns” construction provide a “common denominator” for the integration of these principles. Organic structures and instincts are formed through mutations, sexual and group selection (Darwinian evolution), while structures of behavior including the psyche are formed much faster, they can be flexibly changed or even purposefully constructed on the basis of patterns transmitted through cultural channels (Lamarckian evolution). The principles of biosocial evolution formulated on this basis include the following ideas and provisions: the occurence of radical transformations through responses to challenges with rigid group and sexual selection; the absence of complete gaps between the starting and ending points of an evolutionary period; the advantage of clashing varieties; the advantage of a variety of available structures in the body and behavior; the spiral of selection i.e. the generation of new concerns and challenges due to the costs of operating structures; the predominant use of “magic wands” as potentially multifunctional structures; the principle of genetic-cultural co-evolution; the principle of multilevel selection; the principle of canalized evolution; the termination of search for new structures due to the success of the previous ones. The initial long-term driver of radical changes was the stress of the transition of ancient hominids to terrestrial life and upright walking, when they became vulnerable to large terrestrial predators and had to find food in some new ways. Intra-group solidarity and coordination of behavior, special ingenuity and learning ability became the main supporting structures of the corresponding concerns. New concerns and practices coupled with changing environmental conditions have led to selection pressures and radical morphological innovations. On the basis of the formulated principles of evolution, the mechanisms of such changes as the loss of powerful jaws with large canines, brain development, anatomical changes in the skull and hands, deprivation of hair on the body were reconstructed.

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