The evolution of human humour and music

Hmmm, the evolution of human humour and music. Where and why did it it
happen. I'll give you a theory or two. Firstly, humour. Much of our
evolution is in theory revealed during our early childhood, so that gives
us a clue. Humour could derive from play. Play is a way to test ideas, to
push boundaries and to learn skills. It's also useful as a socialising,
bonding tool. With our social complexity and a big brain it probably
doesn't take much effort to use what we and many other animals have (the
play impulse) and turn it into more abstract jokes.

Another thought. Humour is often built on knowledge - you have to know
something in order to "get it". By building a vast collection of facts
about our surroundings we leave ourselves open to observation of
incongruities. In fact we may need to spot incongruities in order to pick
the pattern that means danger or food or shelter. We'd select for exactly
that sort of thing. Having that in our evolutionary repertoire is but one
step away from seeing the humour or incongruity in things 'going wrong'. It
doesn't pose a disadvantage so it's not going to be selected against and it
also helps bond the social group.

Now with music ask instead why did birds develop song? Probably sexual
selection. I'd say it's similar for humans. Perhaps singing or rhythmic
noises evolved from our mimicry of birdsong and subsequently became
selected for its social advantages, like play. It may have become linked
with some other characteristics, even inadvertently, and continued to be
selected sexually. Rhythmic chants would also have been distinctive and by
changing pitch would have carried communicative possibilities, before
language itself developed.

How's that sound?

Rob.