Untitled Flashcards Set

Complexity

Involves diverse components arranged in precise ways, creating new properties that don’t exist in simpler systems.

Goldilocks Conditions

Conditions that are just right (not too extreme) allowing complexity to emerge and evolve over time.

Entropy

The natural tendency of systems to become more disordered over time.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

States that energy naturally disperses, and without new energy input, systems break down.

1st Threshold - The Big Bang

Occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago.

2nd Threshold - Stars form

Occurred approximately 13.6 billion years ago.

3rd Threshold - New chemical elements appear

Occurred approximately 13.5 billion years ago.

4th Threshold - Earth forms

Occurred approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

5th Threshold - Life begins

Occurred approximately 3.8 billion years ago.

6th Threshold - Humans evolve

Occurred approximately 200,000 years ago.

7th Threshold - Agriculture develops

Occurred approximately 10,000 years ago.

8th Threshold - The modern revolution

Occurred approximately 250 years ago.

Zooming in

Reveals cultural, linguistic, and individual differences.

Zooming out

Highlights shared origins and connections between all humans and species.

What does David Christian emphasize in his work about human societies?

He emphasizes sameness.

What is a characteristic of the modern scientific origin story?

It is based on empirical evidence and is continually updated with new discoveries.

How does the modern scientific origin story compare to traditional stories?

It explains origins using a narrative structure but is based on empirical evidence and is updated.