Abstract
Symbiogenesis is a form of horizontal evolution that occurred 2 billion years ago, with the
evolution of eukaryotic cells. It will be argued that, just as we can develop universal selection
theories based upon a general account of natural selection, we can also develop a universal
symbiogenetic principle that can serve as a general framework to study the origin and evolution
of language. (1) Horizontal evolution will be compared with and distinguished from vertical
evolution. (2) Different examples of intra- and interspecific horizontal evolution will be given to
show that horizontal evolution is quantitatively and qualitatively the most commonly occurring
form of evolution throughout the history of life. (3) Finally, three examples are given of how
a universal symbiogenesis principle can be implemented in the study of language origins and
evolution, more specifically within: (a) the study of language variation, (b) language genes and
(c) conceptual blending.
evolution of eukaryotic cells. It will be argued that, just as we can develop universal selection
theories based upon a general account of natural selection, we can also develop a universal
symbiogenetic principle that can serve as a general framework to study the origin and evolution
of language. (1) Horizontal evolution will be compared with and distinguished from vertical
evolution. (2) Different examples of intra- and interspecific horizontal evolution will be given to
show that horizontal evolution is quantitatively and qualitatively the most commonly occurring
form of evolution throughout the history of life. (3) Finally, three examples are given of how
a universal symbiogenesis principle can be implemented in the study of language origins and
evolution, more specifically within: (a) the study of language variation, (b) language genes and
(c) conceptual blending.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture. A non-adaptationist, systems theoretical approach |
| Editors | Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Diederik Aerts |
| Publisher | Springer, Dordrecht |
| Pages | 195-226 |
| Number of pages | 493 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-4020-3394-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Bibliographical note
Gontier, N., Van Bendegem, J. and Aerts, D. (eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture, pp. 195-226. Springer, Dordrecht (The Netherlands). [Theory and Decision Library, Series A, 39.]Series editor: Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Diederik Aerts
Keywords
- evolutionary epistemology
- symbiogenesis
- evolution of language
- evolution of culture