From Apes to Cyborgs

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Our Deep History: A Short Overview

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 1-10

3. Human Biodiversity and Close Encounters

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 11-26

4. The March for Hegemony

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 27-40

5. The Naked Ape Dresses Up

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 41-47

6. The Evolution of Woman

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 49-58

7. Work, Leisure and Learning

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 59-69

8. Food for Body and Mind

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 71-81

9. Diseases and Grief

   • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

   Pages 83-93

10. Brain and Mind

    • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

    Pages 95-104

11. Imaginary Worlds

    • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

    Pages 105-117

12. Homo Oeconomicus

    • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

    Pages 119-132

13. Humans of the Future

    • Claudio Tuniz, Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

    Pages 133-160

14. Back Matter

    Pages 161-174

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This book offers fascinating insights into the lives of our ancestors and investigates the dynamic processes that led to the establishment of complex human societies. It provides a holistic view of human history and social evolution by drawing on the latest evidence from a wide range of disciplines and proposes new hypotheses on the origins of human behaviour. After exploration of the encounters of Homo sapiens with other human species, diverse aspects of life in emerging societies are examined, including clothing, work, leisure, learning, diet, disease, and the role of women. Attention is drawn to the key role of self-domestication – the process of reducing natural aggression and increasing playfulness – in enabling survival. Another focus is Homo oeconomicus. The significance of symbolic thought for the emergence of surpluses in goods and services is highlighted, with analysis of how this led to private accumulation of wealth and development of the first hierarchical societies. Finally, the discussion turns to humans of the future and the potential risks posed by artificial intelligence. The aim is to unveil the deep roots of our social behaviour and how it is going to intertwine with the development of digital technologies and social networks.

• human evolution
• self-domestication
• artificial intelligence
• paleoeconomics
• Homo economicus
• Human biodiversity
• evolution of woman
• Homo sapiens
• hybridisation with artificial intelligence
• science, technology and society
• Humans of the future
• Transhumanism
• Post-humanism

“‘This great little book deserves to be read by all people concerned to understand where we, as a species, came from and how the challenges we now face reflect that long historical evolution’.” (Giorgio Benedek, Italian Physical Society, sif.it, February, 2021)

• The “Abdus Salam” International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy

  Claudio Tuniz

• University of Udine, Udine, Italy

  Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio

Claudio Tuniz is a Scientific Fellow of the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Coordinator of the project SAPIENS (Physics Methods in Human Origin Studies) at the Fermi Centre in Rome, and Honorary Professor at the Centre for Archaeological Science in Australia. He is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (Springer Nature) and has authored The Bone Readers (with R. Gillespie and C. Jones; Routledge, 2009; Springer Nature, 2010), Radioactivity (Oxford University Press, UK, 2012; Carocci, 2013), The Science of Human Origins (with G. Manzi and D. Caramelli; Laterza, 2013; Routledge, 2014), and Humans (with P. Tiberi Vipraio; Carocci, 2015; Springer Nature, 2016).

Patrizia Tiberi Vipraio was Full Professor of Economic Policy and Associate Professor of International Economics at the University of Udine, Italy, where she also lectured on Monetary Policy and Industrial Economics. Shehas been associated with various universities in Europe and Australia. She has authored a number of academic papers and books, including Dal mercantilismo alla globalizzazione (From Mercantilism to Globalization) (Il Mulino, Bologna, 1999) and Humans (with Claudio Tuniz; Carocci, 2015; Springer Nature, 2016).

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