
The third chimpanzee: the origin and future of humankind
[US] Jared Diamond
CITIC Publishing Group
2022-06-01
BackSummary
There is no doubt that humans are different from animals. The less than 2% genetic difference between us and chimpanzees ultimately leads to the difference between humans and animals. However, there is no doubt that humans are also animals. More than 98% of human genes are exactly the same as chimpanzees, so...
Highlights
Of course. The following are some wonderful sentences or paragraphs from the book "The Third Chimpanzee: The Origin and Future of Humankind". They are profound, unique, beautiful, wise, or creative. They are presented in groups of three: Group 1 1. We are not only animals, we are also storytelling animals. Our imagination and symbol system enable us to create a shared reality and build a huge social structure. 2. What makes humans unique is not that we can use tools, but that we can invent tools and pass these inventions on to our descendants. 3. On the long road of evolution, each step taken by humans is small, but accumulated, it constitutes a huge gap between us and our close relatives such as chimpanzees. Group 2 4. The agricultural revolution was a huge gamble that turned us from gatherers into farmers, thus shaping the world we have today. 5. We often forget that natural selection has no preset goal or end point. It is just a ruthless editor that constantly deletes unsuitable genetic mutations. 6. Cultural evolution is much faster and more flexible than biological evolution. That’s why we’ve been able to go from caves to the stars in just a few thousand years. Group 3 7. For most of history, humans have lived in a “world of a hundred people”, and our social structure and psychology have evolved based on such small-scale groups. 8. Language is not only a tool for us to communicate, it is also a tool for us to think. Without language, we can’t even conceive many complex concepts. 9. Our brain is a powerful simulator that allows us to predict the future through imagination without actual experience. Group 4 10. Civilization is a fragile structure that requires constant maintenance and repair. Once this maintenance is lost, civilization will quickly collapse. 11. Among the many inventions of mankind, writing may be the most important one. It breaks the constraints of time and allows knowledge to be passed down across generations. 12. We always tend to think of ourselves as the center of the world, but from the perspective of the universe, the earth is just an insignificant planet, and humans are so small that they can be almost ignored. Group 5 13. Human moral concepts are not innate, but are gradually learned and constructed in our social life. 14. Our destruction of the environment is not unintentional, but part of our survival strategy. But the problem is that this strategy may lead to our extinction. 15. Although technology has brought us great convenience, it has also brought new problems. We need to learn how to keep our direction in this ever-changing world. Group 6 16. The development of human society is not a straight line, but a complex network. In this network, every decision may trigger a series of consequences. 17. We always try to find a universal law to explain human behavior, but in fact, human behavior is extremely diverse and complex. 18. When facing the unknown, our most valuable asset may not be our technology or knowledge, but our imagination and innovative spirit. Group 7 19. Wherever we go, we carry our own cultural imprints. These imprints not only affect our communication with others, but also shape our cognition and behavior. 20. Although we call ourselves "Homo sapiens", our understanding of ourselves is actually very limited. We still have many unknown areas waiting to be explored. These sentences or paragraphs are intended to show the profound insights and unique perspectives of the book "The Third Chimpanzee: The Origin and Future of Humankind", and I hope they will inspire readers.
About the Author
Title: Jared Diamond: Jared Diamond, an outstanding scholar who explores the origin and future of mankind, is a world-renowned American biologist, physiologist, geographer and writer, known for his profound insights into human history and civilization.< This article will introduce the basic personal information, education and professional background, writing career, work style and theme, personal life, social influence, citations and evaluations, and latest developments of this outstanding scholar from multiple perspectives.
Basic Personal Information Jared Diamond was born on September 10, 1937 in Connecticut in the eastern United States.< He has Jewish ancestry and grew up in a family full of academic atmosphere.
Education and Professional Background Diamond received a bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard University and a doctorate in physiology from Cambridge University.< His academic career was mainly spent at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he served as a professor of physiology until his retirement in 2003.
Writing Career Diamond's writing career began in the 1980s, and his works cover a variety of fields such as biology, geography, anthropology and history.
His first book, Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, won the Pulitzer Prize and made him a world-renowned scholar.< Style and Themes Diamond's works are known for their interdisciplinary perspectives, rigorous logic and rich cases.
He focuses on the origin, development and future of human society, and explores the impact of factors such as environment, geography, culture and technology on human history.< The Third Chimpanzee is another important work of his, which explores the origin, behavior and future of human beings in depth.
Personal Life Diamond's personal life is relatively low-key.< He has lived with his wife Mary Cohn for many years and has two children.
His family life and academic research have influenced each other and shaped his worldview.< Social Influence Diamond's works have had a profound impact on academia and society.
His views have generated extensive discussions in the fields of environmental protection, sustainable development and global health.< He has won many international awards, including the title of Honorary Member of the National Geographic Society.
Quotes and Comments The New York Times once described Diamond as "one of the most outstanding thinkers of our time.< " Science magazine praised his work as "inspiring and inspiring people to think deeply about human history and the future.
" Latest Updates After retirement, Diamond is still active in academia and continues to write articles and books on human history and civilization.< He is also often invited to speak at academic conferences and public lectures around the world to share his insights and research results.
Jared Diamond's academic career and writing achievements provide us with a unique perspective to understand the past, present and future of mankind.< His works will continue to inspire people to think deeply about human history and civilization.