A Monument to The Cognitive Revolution

The

C

N I T IVE Revolution Jackson Schombert

G

History

Homo sapiens are perhaps the most remarkable species ever produced by the planet Earth. While physical evolution remains a lengthy process spanning millions of years, Homo sapiens have managed to transform from nomadic foragers to an interconnected planetary civilization in just a few thousand.

How is such rapid and substantial change possible in a system that otherwise moves at such a plodding pace? Approximately 70,000 years ago, Homo sapiens underwent what is known as the Cognitive Revolution, a neurological adaptation that expanded our ability to think.

Previously, human thought (and language) was limited to concrete ideas such as, “I saw a butterfly by the river.” The language was simple, effective, and when the priority for communication was basic survival, ideal.

But for reasons currently only hypothesized, our thought process took a massive intellectual leap. The Cognitive Revolution allowed Homo sapiens to think in abstract terms. “I saw a butterfly by the river, so we will have good luck in our search for food today.” Essentially, it unlocked the brain as it’s own sixth sense, thought, rather than just a means of communicating the other five. As evidenced by literally everything around you right now, this had massive consequences. With this newfound superpower, Homo sapiens quickly set themselves apart from every other species on the planet. In addition to an explosively expanding vocabulary, the Cognitive Revolution brought imagination. Cave paintings and dances became means of expression.

Songs and religious myths were created to connect and inspire large groups of people.

Eventually, this led to written language, mathematics, laws, castes, sports; at their core, virtually every single human achievement throughout history is built upon some degree of abstract thinking.

Without the Cognitive Revolution...

Well, we wouldn’t be giving it much thought, now would we?

The Visionary Origin of Language by Alex Grey. 1998

The Monument

To recognize the massive importance of the Cognitive Revolution, I am proposing the construction of a monument, dedicated to the beginning of human creativity and ingenuity.

This monument should serve as a reminder to the community that our ability to imagine is what brought us together thousands of years ago through shared artistic expression. We are stronger, more creative, and more intelligent when we are connected.

To begin, the monument should be constructed entirely from granite, for its superior ability to withstand inclement weather and outlast those who oversaw its construction for centuries. The space needed for the monument is a circle measuring 23 meters in diameter, and with a height of 18 meters.

Visually, the monument consists of four faces, interwoven through shared features to create a singular being that can be viewed from any direction. A sloping shoulder, positioned directly below each face, connects the statue to the ground. Each shoulder features a hollowed out tunnel, for pedestrian use.

The walls within each of these tunnels are designated artistic spaces, free to be graffitied, painted, carved, etc., promoting creativity and engagement from the public. The encouragement of artistic freedom hearkens back to the abstract beauty of cave paintings created thousands of years ago at the beginning of the Cognitive Revolution.

Additionally, steps located at the inner base of each shoulder provide platforms for musicians and other performers to use.

The monument is perfectly symmetrical from every angle, as seen below. The tunnels measure 3 meters in height, 4 meters in width, and 7 meters in length. They, and the entirety of the monument, should be well lit, for the enjoyment and safety of the community.

This aerial view gives a better sense of the complete dimensions of the monument.

Ideally, the ground within the larger circle would be laid with colorful tiles in a beautiful design that adds to the artistic value of the monument.

Location

With flourishing arts programs that rival other Virginia universities, and a beautiful campus that features many other statues and monuments, George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia would provide an excellent placement for this monument, specifically in the flat, grassy area between the Mason Pond and the Performing Arts Building. With 360° visibility from both the PAB and the surrounding Mason Pond Drive, this would be an excellent location welcoming students and visitors alike to campus.

Alternatively, another wonderful home for this monument of the Cognitive Revolution is within the Volkspark Friedrichshain, located in Berlin, Germany. Artistic expression, especially graffiti is extremely important in the culture of Berlin. Protests of the Berlin Wall often took the form of street art, and this monument dedicated to human creativity would be a beautiful addition to the already thriving artistic scene in Berlin. Placing it in a public park allows for constant free access that propels it from a simple monument, to a blooming attraction available to all.