Book contents
- The Nature and Nurture of Talent
- The Nature and Nurture of Talent
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction Rationale, Goals, and Overview of the Book
- Chapter 1 The Evolving Complexity Theory of Talent Development
- Chapter 2 The Question of What Develops
- Chapter 3 The Question of How Talent Develops
- Chapter 4 The Question of When Critical Events Should Take Place
- Chapter 5 The Question of Where
- Chapter 6 How ECT Explains Various Talent Achievements
- Chapter 7 ECT in a Broader Landscape of Theoretic Models
- Chapter 8 Implications of ECT for Talent Identification and Assessment of Developmental Progressions
- Chapter 9 Implications of ECT for Promoting Human Excellence
- Chapter 10 Implications of ECT for Research Methodology
- Epilogue Is AI a Threat to Human Excellence?
- Postscript
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Chapter 2 - The Question of What Develops
Talent as a New Machine Made of Old Parts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 June 2024
- The Nature and Nurture of Talent
- The Nature and Nurture of Talent
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction Rationale, Goals, and Overview of the Book
- Chapter 1 The Evolving Complexity Theory of Talent Development
- Chapter 2 The Question of What Develops
- Chapter 3 The Question of How Talent Develops
- Chapter 4 The Question of When Critical Events Should Take Place
- Chapter 5 The Question of Where
- Chapter 6 How ECT Explains Various Talent Achievements
- Chapter 7 ECT in a Broader Landscape of Theoretic Models
- Chapter 8 Implications of ECT for Talent Identification and Assessment of Developmental Progressions
- Chapter 9 Implications of ECT for Promoting Human Excellence
- Chapter 10 Implications of ECT for Research Methodology
- Epilogue Is AI a Threat to Human Excellence?
- Postscript
- Glossary
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 2 addresses the question of what develops; the main argument of ECT is that most talent domains as defined by culture are not genetically programmed or preordained; however, most human accomplishments or excellence we know of are traceable to our ancient, even prehistorical roots when Homo sapiens still lived a hunting-and-gathering life. Therefore, any talent we are familiar with can be seen as a new machine made of “old parts” ever-present in prehistorical times and everyday life, a set of bioecological effectivities that have a long history of serving the surviving-thriving function in human ecology, only gradually to be harnessed and further refined through enculturation and institutionalized education and training, supported by cultural niche construction and infrastructure. Here lies a critical distinction between typical development in an expectant cultural environment and optimal development in a highly enriched one, potentially resulting in social disparities. Along the way, evidence of developmental diversity and divergent pathways suggests spontaneous self-organization of bioecological aptitudes and dispositions in adapting to affordances and challenges presented in a sociocultural environment, laying the foundation the growing person–object or person–world relationships.
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- The Nature and Nurture of TalentA New Foundation for Human Excellence, pp. 34 - 61Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024