Permanent immaturity

"Permanent immaturity" is a term used by the author Wilson for the human brain; it underlies his thesis that people are born resourceful. Over time and experience they become skillful and thoughtful because their brain remains in a state of permanent curiosity, learning and growth.

Australopithecine

Australopithecine is the name of the first "southern apes" that walk upright in Africa, exemplified by "Lucy" from 3.2 million years ago. Her hand is not ape-like and her brain is chimpanzee-sized. Sherwood Washburn's thesis on Darwinism claims three characteristics distinguish this first "tool-using hominid."

Anthropological reference date

Anthropological reference date is the term used by Wilson to denote human development periods that start with Lucy, 3.9 to 4.2 million years ago (mya), Homo habilis 2 mya, Homo erectus 1 mya and Homo sapiens 100,000 years ago.

Pliocene epoch

Pliocene epoch is a term that denotes an anthropological period when hominids appear with a recognizable four-finger...