Exploratory Synthesis Essay

The focus of this article is the bias found in evolutionary and endocrinological studies. These studies serve the purpose of defining and tracing human nature through evolution and present times. Evolutionary studies address the description of human descent from primates. These studies seek to outline the sequence of changes and mechanisms of action that make up the evolution of humans from primates. The general theory of evolution is used to reconstruct history with facts and evidence from fossils and other remains. Endocrinology is the study of how hormones affect human anatomy and physiology, behavior, and cognition. Longino and Doell analyze these studies by looking at the questions being asked, the data and how it’s applied as evidence, the hypotheses used as answers to the questions, and the
The example is of Mary Leakey’s discovery of footprints in volcanic ash at Laetoli in Tanzania. Here, three sets of footprints were discovered that display “the raised arch, rounded heal, pronounced ball, and forward pointing big toe necessary for walking erect.” (Longino & Doell, 213) Adding to the evidence, the distance between the footprints and pressure shown are indicative of a striding gait. From this evidence, Leakey determined that only an upright, fully bipedal creature could have created those prints. Using organic material imbedded in the prints, Leakey could date the footprints to 3.59-3.77 million years ago. Since bipedalism is the determination for hominid status, we can determine with certainty that hominids developed as early as 3.59 million years ago. This settled the debate over whether a larger brain or bipedalism developed first (Agnew & Demas). These footprints are close to 1 million years older than the earliest known stone