the origins of music grooming, flirting, playing or babbling? the origins of music grooming,...
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The Origins of MusicThe Origins of MusicGrooming, flirting, playing or babbling?Grooming, flirting, playing or babbling?
Richard ParncuttRichard ParncuttUniversity of Graz, AustriaUniversity of Graz, Austria
Observatoire interdisciplinaire de création et Observatoire interdisciplinaire de création et de recherche en musique (OICRM)de recherche en musique (OICRM)
Faculté de Musique, Université de MontréalFaculté de Musique, Université de Montréal
15 May 201215 May 2012
This file was revised after the talk, thanks to This file was revised after the talk, thanks to Caroline Traube and others for ideasCaroline Traube and others for ideas!!SysMus Graz
ContentsContents What is “music”? What is “music”?
What are we trying to explain, exactly?What are we trying to explain, exactly?
What is a “good” theory?What is a “good” theory?Some pitfalls to avoidSome pitfalls to avoid
Theories of music’s originTheories of music’s originEvaluation and comparisonEvaluation and comparison
Was it motherese?Was it motherese?Comparison with other theoriesComparison with other theories
Language, religion, consciousnessLanguage, religion, consciousness
Language and music Language and music universal featuresuniversal features
Language and music
Music(compared to language)
1. acoustic2. meaningful3. gestural4. rhythmic, melodic5. syntactic6. social7. emotional8. intentional
9. less lexical10. more repetitive and playful11. more spiritual12. less socially essential13. more expertise- oriented14. more exact in pitch and
time, less exact in timbre
Both language and music are
1. Acoustic1. Acousticphysical vibrations of voice, instruments, air, ear...
Physical limitations:Physical limitations: physiology of voice and earphysiology of voice and ear size size resonances of vocal tract resonances of vocal tract ff00 range of music ≈ 100 – 1000 Hz range of music ≈ 100 – 1000 Hz
Both language and music are
2. Meaningful2. MeaningfulThey communicate information
language: language: obvious?obvious?
music: music: mysterious?mysterious?
philosophical & psychological issuesphilosophical & psychological issues
Both language and music are
3. Gestural3. GesturalThey involve body movement (corporality)
LanguageLanguage theories of origin based on sign and gesturetheories of origin based on sign and gesture
MusicMusic dance, conducting, musicians’ gesturesdance, conducting, musicians’ gestures talk about music: “rising melody”, “fast music”talk about music: “rising melody”, “fast music”
Both language and music are
4. Rhythmic and melodic4. Rhythmic and melodicstructured in pitch and time
Speech: timing + intonation = prosodyCategorical perception of phonemes by duration and pitch
Music: rhythm + contour = melodyCategorical perception of tones by metric position and scale step (more categories, more hierarchical)
Western music: harmony
Structural universalsStructural universalsultimately based on human anatomy, physiology, cognition
MelodyMelody: : like like speechspeech in... in...
pitch/interval distributions, tone/phrase durations, arch shapepitch/interval distributions, tone/phrase durations, arch shape
RhythmRhythm: : tempo range like tempo range like footsteps & heartbeatsfootsteps & heartbeats;;
movement character (multimodal); beat induction, entrainmentmovement character (multimodal); beat induction, entrainment
FormForm: : repetition, call-response, motivic developmentrepetition, call-response, motivic development
Both language and music are
5. Syntactic5. Syntacticbased on structural elements and principles
LanguageLanguage nouns, verbs, subjects etc.nouns, verbs, subjects etc.
MusicMusic motives, scale steps, beats etc.motives, scale steps, beats etc.
BothBoth contextual probabilitiescontextual probabilities hierarchical structureshierarchical structures ambiguities (esp. music)ambiguities (esp. music)
Language and music give groups and participants identityenable & motivate coordinated action
Different “natural” constellationslanguage: pairsmusic: groups
Both language and music are
6. Social6. Socialpromoting group cohesion
Social origins Social origins
Language: gossip? Language: gossip? exclude free riders from larger groupsexclude free riders from larger groupsmaintain social coherencemaintain social coherencerequires large brain (cortex) requires large brain (cortex) (Dunbar)(Dunbar)
Music: ritual?Music: ritual?initiation ceremony, corroboree...initiation ceremony, corroboree...church service, rave party...church service, rave party... coordinate emotional statescoordinate emotional states promote conformity and altruismpromote conformity and altruism
Both language and music are
7. Emotional7. Emotional motivating people (not) to act
Differences between language and music:means of emotional communication
speech & music: prosody (rhythm, intonation, stress) only speech: lexical content (words, syntax)
relationship to everyday emotion speech: same emotions as speech music: shift of emphasis next slide
Remarkable about music:strong emotion - but not adaptive
Typical musical emotions Typical musical emotions pleasurable, intimate, spiritual, ineffablepleasurable, intimate, spiritual, ineffable
both valence (+/-) and arousal both valence (+/-) and arousal
Interview study: Strong experiences in music (Gabrielsson & Lindström Wik, 2003)
+ve: peace, harmony, safety, warmth, humility, wonder, awe, reverence, respect, joy, love, perfection, rapture
-ve: loneliness, longing, melancholy, embarrassment
Rating study: How often emotions feltin music 9 factors (Zentner et al, 2008):wonder, transcendence, tenderness, nostalgia, peacefulness, power, joyful activation, tension, sadness
Both language and music are
8. Intentional8. Intentionalmotivating people (not) to act
Cognitive reflectionCognitive reflection planning: thinking about past and futureplanning: thinking about past and future metacognition: thinking about thinkingmetacognition: thinking about thinking theory of mind: others’ “minds” are differenttheory of mind: others’ “minds” are different consciousnessconsciousness
……enablesenables intention and deliberate actionintention and deliberate action language: lyinglanguage: lying music: emotional manipulationmusic: emotional manipulation
DifferencesDifferences
Music – as compared to language9 less lexical
10 more repetitive
11 more ritualized and spiritual
12 less socially essential
13 more expertise-oriented
14 more exact in pitch/time, less in timbre
9. Only language is 9. Only language is intrinsically lexicalintrinsically lexical
words in a dictionarywords in a dictionary exception: Wagner‘s exception: Wagner‘s LeitmotivLeitmotiv??
You can‘t order pizza with a violinYou can‘t order pizza with a violin
10. Only music is 10. Only music is intrinsically repetitiveintrinsically repetitive
people usually say things only oncepeople usually say things only once musical themes are usually repeatedmusical themes are usually repeated
I must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in class
I must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in class
I must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in classI must not talk in class
11. Only music is 11. Only music is intrinsically spiritualintrinsically spiritualtranscendent, connecting, life-changingtranscendent, connecting, life-changing
Language is an everyday phenomenonLanguage is an everyday phenomenon• everyone does iteveryone does it• no unusual skills requiredno unusual skills required
Music has special, ritual characterMusic has special, ritual character• playful, imaginaryplayful, imaginary• separate from everyday lifeseparate from everyday life• links my spirit (identity) with other spiritslinks my spirit (identity) with other spirits
Music and spiritualityMusic and spiritualityGabrielsson & Lindström Wik (2003)Gabrielsson & Lindström Wik (2003)
strong emotionsstrong emotions trance, flow, ecstacy, focussed attention, here/nowtrance, flow, ecstacy, focussed attention, here/now
out-of-body experiencesout-of-body experiences loss of awareness of self, body, time, spaceloss of awareness of self, body, time, space performance: someone else in control?performance: someone else in control?
spiritualityspirituality other dimensions, worlds, heaven, afterlife, totalityother dimensions, worlds, heaven, afterlife, totality meaning of life, transcendental, divine communicationmeaning of life, transcendental, divine communication
enclosure, onenessenclosure, oneness private, isolated world, surrounded by musicprivate, isolated world, surrounded by music wholeness, merging, embedding, intimacywholeness, merging, embedding, intimacy
PerotinO MariaMater piac. 1200
12. Language is 12. Language is socially more essentialsocially more essential
People with aphasiaPeople with aphasia conspicuousconspicuous serious social difficultiesserious social difficulties
People with amusiaPeople with amusia inconspicuousinconspicuous relativelyrelatively ok ok
……at least in Western culture???at least in Western culture???
13. Expertise is more 13. Expertise is more important in musicimportant in music
SpeakingSpeaking everyone is expected to do iteveryone is expected to do it everyone practices constantlyeveryone practices constantly
Playing musicPlaying music experts are admiredexperts are admired only experts practice regularlyonly experts practice regularly
A good theory of music’s origin(s) A good theory of music’s origin(s) should should explainexplain or or be consistent with be consistent with all points:all points:
Language and music
Music(compared to language)
1. acoustic2. meaningful3. gestural4. rhythmic, melodic5. syntactic6. social7. emotional8. intentional
9. less lexical10. more repetitive and playful11. more spiritual12. less socially essential13. more expertise- oriented14. more exact in pitch and
time, less exact in timbre
MusilanguageMusilanguage(Brown, xxx)
Left side of tableCommon ancestor of music and language
Right side of tableDifferent functions for different purposes
A scenario for the music-language split Why: different social functions How: (co-) enabled by consciousness (intentionality) When:
In phylogeny, about 100 000 years ago In ontogeny, at age 1 year
But what is musilanguage? We will return to this point…
Years ago Relevance for humanity Relevance for music
100 000 000 animals acoustic communication
10 000 000 primates sonic social coordination3 000 000 tools
1 000 000 large brain, social cognition lang.-music separation300 000 low larynx variety of sounds
100 000 • reflection, theory of mind• speech: complex vocab & syntax• cultural explosion: art, religion• exit from Africa
• instruments• scales, metre• complex ritual
10 000 • agriculture, villages, writing• hierarchical social structures
• pentatonic/diatonic• rich oral traditions
1 000 Europe: religious domination • polyphony, notation
100 • modern democracy• electrical technologies
• new tonalities• sound recording
Music at the birth of humanityMusic at the birth of humanitythe “music” that I want to explain
OriginOrigin of music of music or or prerequisitesprerequisites for music? for music?
PrerequisitesPrerequisites include: include: physiologyphysiology
vocal tract, fast neural processing...vocal tract, fast neural processing...
psychologypsychology reflective language, theory of mind...reflective language, theory of mind...
latent abilitieslatent abilities ability to synchronize to a beat, e.g. ability to synchronize to a beat, e.g. Snowball
AnAn originorigin is is a a behavior similar to musicbehavior similar to music mechanisms, motivations, structuresmechanisms, motivations, structures
A “good” theory is...A “good” theory is...
simple simple parsimonious, falsifiable parsimonious, falsifiable
general general accounts for range of phenomena accounts for range of phenomena
focused focused on the main issues on the main issues
concrete concrete clearly defined terms, processes clearly defined terms, processes
logical logical clear argument clear argument
empirical empirical observation-based, ecological observation-based, ecological
seminal seminal inspires new approaches inspires new approaches
Ockham Kuhn Popper GibsonOckham Kuhn Popper Gibson
Six theories of music’s originSix theories of music’s origin
1.1. Animal behaviorsAnimal behaviors
2.2. Pleasure seekingPleasure seeking
3.3. Mate attraction: Mate attraction: flirtingflirting
4.4. Training: Training: playingplaying
5.5. Socializing: Socializing: groominggrooming
6.6. Motherese: Motherese: babblingbabbling
1. Non-human animal behaviors1. Non-human animal behaviors
Examples:Examples: singing (birds, whales, gibbons) singing (birds, whales, gibbons) territorial marking (wolves...)territorial marking (wolves...) synchronous chorusing (chimpanzees)synchronous chorusing (chimpanzees)
For: For: may explain unconscious “drives”may explain unconscious “drives”
Against: Against: isolated, impoverished skillsisolated, impoverished skills
Can account for music’s...Can account for music’s...repetition, social function, emotionrepetition, social function, emotionNOT complexity, intentionality, spiritualityNOT complexity, intentionality, spirituality
2. Non-adaptive pleasure seeking2. Non-adaptive pleasure seeking(Pinker, 1997; cf. Huron, 2001-2010)(Pinker, 1997; cf. Huron, 2001-2010)
Uses multiple existing neural systems: Uses multiple existing neural systems: motor, ASA, language, social, aggression...motor, ASA, language, social, aggression...
CounterevidenceCounterevidence based on accident – could go in the wrong directionbased on accident – could go in the wrong direction musicians do not get addicted and suffer withdrawalmusicians do not get addicted and suffer withdrawal
Accounts for music’s...Accounts for music’s...emotion, repetition, spiritualityemotion, repetition, spirituality
NOT gesture, structure, syntaxNOT gesture, structure, syntax
NOT social function, intentionalityNOT social function, intentionality
3. Flirting: mate attraction3. Flirting: mate attractionDarwin (1871), Miller (2000)Darwin (1871), Miller (2000)
Evidence: Evidence: voice and dance may indicate fitness (?)voice and dance may indicate fitness (?) more male than female musicians (?)more male than female musicians (?) more creative when sexually active (?)more creative when sexually active (?)
Counterevidence: Counterevidence: no gender diff in music ability; androgenyno gender diff in music ability; androgeny other ways to evaluate fitnessother ways to evaluate fitness humans are smarter than peacockshumans are smarter than peacocks not altruistic – social function?not altruistic – social function?
Accounts for music’s...Accounts for music’s...emotion, intentionality, expertise orientationemotion, intentionality, expertise orientationNOT spiritualityNOT spirituality
4. Playing and training4. Playing and training
Children play with music Children play with music (in times of bounty and safety) (in times of bounty and safety)
to train survival skills to train survival skills (in times of shortage and danger)(in times of shortage and danger)performance, dance performance, dance physical skills, coordination physical skills, coordinationlistening listening cognitive skills, language cognitive skills, language
Doubts: Doubts: Does this kind of training really promote survival? Does this kind of training really promote survival? Is there a “Mozart effect”?Is there a “Mozart effect”?
Accounts for music’s...Accounts for music’s...social functions, pleasuresocial functions, pleasureexpertise orientationexpertise orientationNOT spiritualityNOT spirituality
5. Socializing (grooming)5. Socializing (grooming)Roederer (1984), McNeill (1995), Brown (2000)Roederer (1984), McNeill (1995), Brown (2000)Freeman (2000), Cross (2009), Huron (2001)....Freeman (2000), Cross (2009), Huron (2001)....
Evidence:Evidence:• primate grooming time primate grooming time increases with increases with group sizegroup size• language & music can fulfil social function of grooming (Dunbar)language & music can fulfil social function of grooming (Dunbar)
Accounts for music’s...Accounts for music’s...social function, emotion, intentionalitysocial function, emotion, intentionality
NOT spirituality, strong emotionNOT spirituality, strong emotion
CAVEAT: CAVEAT: evolution is evolution is primarily about individualsprimarily about individuals
6. Mother-infant communication6. Mother-infant communicationDissanayake (2000), Falk (2004)Dissanayake (2000), Falk (2004)
Motherese & babbling are musicalMotherese & babbling are musical• rhythmic, melodic, gesturalrhythmic, melodic, gestural• emotional, meaningfulemotional, meaningful
Babies have musical skillsBabies have musical skills• comparable to adult non-musicianscomparable to adult non-musicians
Accounts forAccounts for the lot?the lot?
Evidence: studiesEvidence: studies motheresemotherese prenatal learningprenatal learning infant musicalityinfant musicality
May also account for...May also account for...•reflective languagereflective language•theory of mindtheory of mind•all artsall arts
CRITERION animalbehav
pleasure flirt play skill
socialize Mother-infant
acoustic 1 1 1 1 1 1
meaning 1 1 1 1 1 1
gesture 1 1 1 1 1 1
rhy & mel 1 1 1 1 1 1
syntax 0.5 0 0.5 1 0.5 1
social glue 1 0 0.5 1 1 1
emotion 1 1 1 1 1 1
intention 0 0.5 1 1 1 1
non-lexical 1 1 1 1 1 1
repetitive 1 1 1 1 1 1
spiritual 0 1 0 0 0 1
unessential 1 1 1 1 1 1
expertise 0 0 1 1 0 0.5
evidence 0.5 0 0.5 0 1 0.5
TOTAL 1.5 1.5 3.5 4 3.5 5
Origin or origins?Origin or origins?
Did different processes Did different processes contribute to music in contribute to music in different periods?different periods?
Is music…Is music…40% babbling/playing?40% babbling/playing?
30% flirting?30% flirting?
20% other sozialising?20% other sozialising?
10% animal behavior?10% animal behavior?
Infant musicalityInfant musicalitye.g. many studies by Trehub and collaboratorse.g. many studies by Trehub and collaborators
Sensitivity to...Sensitivity to... melodic contourmelodic contour relative pitch/durationrelative pitch/duration specific musical intervals specific musical intervals changes in unequal scales/rhythmschanges in unequal scales/rhythms+ pulse (Winkler; Phillips-Silver)+ pulse (Winkler; Phillips-Silver)
These are “predispositions”These are “predispositions”““evident in infancy, before they have evident in infancy, before they have obvious utilityobvious utility” ”
(Trehub, 2001)(Trehub, 2001)
Origins of infant musicalityOrigins of infant musicalitytwo inseparable possibilities?two inseparable possibilities?
Genetic Genetic (Trehub)(Trehub)
selection for music (mate attraction, selection for music (mate attraction, training, social glue, motherese…)training, social glue, motherese…)
Learned Learned (Parncutt)(Parncutt)
prenatal exposure to changing maternal prenatal exposure to changing maternal sound, movement and hormone levelssound, movement and hormone levels
Prenatal cognitionPrenatal cognition
Taste from 15 weeksTaste from 15 weeks Hearing from 20 weeksHearing from 20 weeks Light sensitivity from 28 weeks (Lowery, 2002)Light sensitivity from 28 weeks (Lowery, 2002) Memory (Hepper, 1991) & learning (Hepper, 1996)Memory (Hepper, 1991) & learning (Hepper, 1996)
possible functions: possible functions: practice, infant-mother bonding, practice, infant-mother bonding, promotion of breastfeeding, language acquisitionpromotion of breastfeeding, language acquisition
Prenatal learning?Prenatal learning?
Fetal rats learn in response to intrauterine Fetal rats learn in response to intrauterine stimulation administered stimulation administered occasionally over 5 days occasionally over 5 days (Smotherman & Robinson, 1990)(Smotherman & Robinson, 1990)
Fetal humans learn from maternal sound, Fetal humans learn from maternal sound, movement ... movement ... almost constantly for 20 weeksalmost constantly for 20 weeks
The difference between The difference between an infant and a fetusan infant and a fetus
Sudden physiological changes: Sudden physiological changes: BreathingBreathing DigestionDigestion
No psychological or neurological changeNo psychological or neurological change““Birth is a trivial event in development. Nothing Birth is a trivial event in development. Nothing
neurologically interesting happens”neurologically interesting happens”
(Janet DiPietro, cited in Psychology Today, 1998)(Janet DiPietro, cited in Psychology Today, 1998)
From about 32 weeks fetus behaves like newbornFrom about 32 weeks fetus behaves like newborn
Extrapolate infant behavior to fetal behavior?Extrapolate infant behavior to fetal behavior?
Infant versus mother schemaInfant versus mother schema
Infant schema (Infant schema (cuteness) promotes survival (Lorenz)cuteness) promotes survival (Lorenz) Inverse: Inverse: Mother schemaMother schema??
Fetal knowledge of maternal sounds, movements and Fetal knowledge of maternal sounds, movements and emotions could promote bonding and infant survivalemotions could promote bonding and infant survival
Multimodal and holistic: baby cannot analyse itMultimodal and holistic: baby cannot analyse it
Evidence for mother schemaEvidence for mother schema very early hearing & learning – what function?very early hearing & learning – what function? fetus learns maternal smell, taste, diet fetus learns maternal smell, taste, diet preferences preferences
(Joy Brown, 2008)(Joy Brown, 2008) fetus distinguishes maternal voice from loudspeaker fetus distinguishes maternal voice from loudspeaker
on mother’s abdomen (Hepper et al., 2007)on mother’s abdomen (Hepper et al., 2007)
……All of this without reflective awareness All of this without reflective awareness
The phylogeny of musicThe phylogeny of music The “mother schema” theory The “mother schema” theory
Larger brain 2 to 1.5 million years ago (Falk, 2000; Mithen, 1996)Today, the first 3 postnatal months are the “4th trimester”
Prenatal hearing in animalsYes: humans, sheep, goats, guinea pigs
No: gerbils, rats, cats
The ontogeny of musicThe ontogeny of musicThe “mother schema” theoryThe “mother schema” theory
* Prerequisite: Long-term multimodal recognition memory •multimodal = sound + movement + emotion•for similar, repeated patterns •not episodic memory! (e.g. no memory for birth)
** Feature: Behaviors similar to motherese • evoke “motherese feelings” • are reinforced by operant conditioning
Musilanguage and mothereseMusilanguage and motherese
In a parsimonious theory they are the same thing!•Convergent evidence is consistent with this conclusion•No evidence that they are different
Hypothesis “musilanguage = motherese”•Makes musilanguage theory more concrete and tangible•Establishes a concrete scenario for origin of music
From motherese to musicFrom motherese to music
““It is not surprising that societies all over the world have It is not surprising that societies all over the world have developed these nodes of culture that we call ceremonies developed these nodes of culture that we call ceremonies and rituals, which do for their members what mothers and rituals, which do for their members what mothers naturally do for their babies: naturally do for their babies: engage their interest, involve engage their interest, involve them in a shared rhythmic pulse, and thereby instill feelings them in a shared rhythmic pulse, and thereby instill feelings of closeness and communion. of closeness and communion. The inborn propensities for The inborn propensities for imitation, reciprocity, and emotional communion in infancy imitation, reciprocity, and emotional communion in infancy have become further elaborated and used in ritualized and have become further elaborated and used in ritualized and ceremonial forms that themselves build and reinforce ceremonial forms that themselves build and reinforce feelings of unity among adults, feelings of unity among adults, all of which ultimately serve all of which ultimately serve to hold the group together.” to hold the group together.”
((Dissanayake, 2000, p. 64, cited by Davies)Dissanayake, 2000, p. 64, cited by Davies)
Three kinds of “culture”Three kinds of “culture”
Language is prerequisite for religion. Others develop at same time.
All 3 began roughly 100 000 years ago in ritual contexts. How and why?
Prerequisites for religionPrerequisites for religionBasic moralityBasic moralityReciprocal altruismReciprocal altruismAre gods supernatural police? (Matt Rossano)Are gods supernatural police? (Matt Rossano)
Mental images and causalityMental images and causalityTool use Tool use (-2 000 kya) (-2 000 kya)
Formulation of beliefsFormulation of beliefsLanguage, ability to construct narrativesLanguage, ability to construct narrativesLarge brain (500 kya)Large brain (500 kya)Construction of gods: Theory of mind, agent detectionConstruction of gods: Theory of mind, agent detectionOral tradition: Gullibility of children (Dawkins)Oral tradition: Gullibility of children (Dawkins)
Monotheistic tendencies Monotheistic tendencies in world religionsin world religions
HinduHindu
Poly- or mono-theistic?Poly- or mono-theistic?
3 aspects of universal supreme 3 aspects of universal supreme god: Brahma (creator), Shiva god: Brahma (creator), Shiva (destroyer), Vishnu (protector)(destroyer), Vishnu (protector)
BuddhismBuddhism
A- or mono-theistic?A- or mono-theistic?
3 jewels: Buddha, Dharma 3 jewels: Buddha, Dharma (teachings) and Sangha (teachings) and Sangha (community)(community)
Religion Billions of people
Christianity 2
Islam 1.5
Hindu 1
Buddhist 0.5
folk 1
No religion 1
Origins of religionOrigins of religionAn approach from anthropology and animal behaviorAn approach from anthropology and animal behavior
““We humans crave emotional connection .… An earthly need We humans crave emotional connection .… An earthly need for belongingness led to the human religious imagination and for belongingness led to the human religious imagination and thus to the otherworldly realm of relating with God, gods, and thus to the otherworldly realm of relating with God, gods, and spirits. … belongingness was transformed from a basic spirits. … belongingness was transformed from a basic emotional relating between individuals to a deeper relating, emotional relating between individuals to a deeper relating, one that had the potential to become one that had the potential to become transcendenttranscendent, between , between people and supernatural beings or forces.people and supernatural beings or forces.
Barbara King (2007). Barbara King (2007). Evolving God: A provocative view of the Evolving God: A provocative view of the origins of religion. origins of religion. cf. parent-offspring conflict (Trivers)cf. parent-offspring conflict (Trivers)
Ok, but I have some questions: Ok, but I have some questions:
Social support practices can solve the connection problem. Social support practices can solve the connection problem.
Why Why transcendenttranscendent? Why is transcendence ? Why is transcendence universaluniversal??
Why are religious emotions as Why are religious emotions as strongstrong as adaptive emotions? as adaptive emotions?
Origins of religionOrigins of religionAn approach from anthropology and animal behaviorAn approach from anthropology and animal behavior
““the soulful need to pray to gods, to praise God with hymns, the soulful need to pray to gods, to praise God with hymns, to shake in terror before the power of invisible spirits, to fear to shake in terror before the power of invisible spirits, to fear for one’s life at the hands of the unknown or to feel bathed in for one’s life at the hands of the unknown or to feel bathed in all-enveloping love from the heavens. … The inaccessibility all-enveloping love from the heavens. … The inaccessibility to language of the sacred experience mirrors what Martin to language of the sacred experience mirrors what Martin Buber writes … God ‘is wrapped in a cloud but reveals itself, Buber writes … God ‘is wrapped in a cloud but reveals itself, it lacks but creates language. We hear no You and yet we it lacks but creates language. We hear no You and yet we feel addressed; we answer—creating, thinking, acting: with feel addressed; we answer—creating, thinking, acting: with our being we speak the basic word, unable to say You with our being we speak the basic word, unable to say You with our mouth’”our mouth’”
Barbara King (2007). Evolving God: A provocative view of Barbara King (2007). Evolving God: A provocative view of the origins of religion. New York: Doubleday.the origins of religion. New York: Doubleday.
Idle observation: Idle observation:
Like a baby’s pre-conscious experience of its motherLike a baby’s pre-conscious experience of its mother
Motherese and spiritualityMotherese and spirituality
Prenatal mother schemaPrenatal mother schema multimodal representationmultimodal representation behavior, states, predictionsbehavior, states, predictions the first schema ever the first schema ever
- in ontogeny and phylogeny- in ontogeny and phylogeny mirror of mother‘s infant schemamirror of mother‘s infant schema both schemata both schemata infant survival infant survival
human qualities human qualities
of gods and spirits?of gods and spirits?Bhārat Mātā = Mother India
national personification of India as a mother goddess
God God according to Wikipediaaccording to Wikipedia
Not only the origin of everything, but also:o supernatural and eternal o overseer of the universeo omni-scient, -potent, -present, -benevolento divinely simple
…a culturally reconstructed mother schema?o originally ungendered and unpoliticized
o cf. Jung’s mother archetypeo transmitted by non-episodic, pre-linguistic memory
o not “remembered” in the everyday senseo social and cultural - not individual
Chora - Chora - χώραχώρα
Ancient / modern GreekAncient / modern Greek womb; popular dance / womb; popular dance / country, regioncountry, region
PlatoPlato maternal space where forms materializematernal space where forms materialize
Julia Kristeva Julia Kristeva prelinguistic spaceprelinguistic space place of mobility, dissolution, renewalplace of mobility, dissolution, renewal source of emotion, instinctive drivessource of emotion, instinctive drives
Jacques DerridaJacques Derrida feminine roles: mother, nurse, receptaclefeminine roles: mother, nurse, receptacle
Carnegie Hall
Canterbury Cathedral
Acoustics of churchesAcoustics of churches
““Appropriate for worship”Appropriate for worship”= psychological connection to prenatal experience?= psychological connection to prenatal experience?
1. Reinforcement of low frequencies1. Reinforcement of low frequenciesPrenatal sound is low-pass filteredPrenatal sound is low-pass filtered
2. Suppression of directional cues2. Suppression of directional cues(Criteria for good room acoustics include “envelopment”)(Criteria for good room acoustics include “envelopment”)
Fetus cannot localise sound sourcesFetus cannot localise sound sources
““Supplication” or fetal position?Supplication” or fetal position?
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jewish prayerPlaza Hall, Jerusalem
Baha‘i Sikhism
Origin of consciousnessOrigin of consciousnessreflective language reflective awareness
A radical change A radical change adaptation? adaptation?Must have big benefits for survival and reproductionMust have big benefits for survival and reproduction
But: No such neural change 100 kya!But: No such neural change 100 kya!
Candidate origin scenario:Candidate origin scenario:bigger brain bigger brain earlier birth earlier birth fragile infant fragile infant motherese motherese
Infant survival depends on mother Infant survival depends on mother guessingguessing its needs its needs strong evolutionary pressure strong evolutionary pressure empathy, role of mirror neuronsempathy, role of mirror neuronstheory of mind, metarepresentation, consciousnesstheory of mind, metarepresentation, consciousnessparallel linguistic development (motherese)parallel linguistic development (motherese)
Motherese as the origin of Motherese as the origin of music music ...and language and religion?...and language and religion?
Larger brain + bipedalism Larger brain + bipedalism earlier birth earlier birth infant fragility “atriciality”infant fragility “atriciality” more parental care more parental care survival survival new, complex infant-mother interactionnew, complex infant-mother interaction
Accounts for music’s...Accounts for music’s...• structures structures • functionsfunctions• emotionsemotions• spiritualityspirituality
Can also explain:Can also explain:•reflective languagereflective language•theory of mindtheory of mind•all artsall arts•human uniquenesshuman uniqueness