Evolution of human cooperation in Homo heidelbergensis: Teleology versus mentalism

The main thrust of this paper is to argue that teleology is the way by which we tend to understand ourselves and others in routine cases. Since teleology has an inbuilt slant towards cooperation, it may be the essence of what made Homo sapiens, starting with Homo heidelbergensis, the cooperative species it is. We present the critical features of the teleological approach in terms of justifying reasons for action. These features differentiate teleology from theory of mind (theory theory) and mental simulation. Our emphasis on justifying reasons also distinguishes our teleology from other approaches under the same heading. We also point out the limitations of teleology when it comes to competition, understanding subjective mental perspectives and cultural differences. Although our grand picture is speculative, we firm up our claims with data from children's cooperation and their appreciation of competition that appear in stages reminiscent of Piaget's view on development.