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The Ādam Paradox Hypothesis 94
5. The Regional Variation Objection: “Africa shows multiple symbolic
traditions; maybe the ignition was gradual and regional.
”
Claim. Symbolism emerged unevenly across Africa, with regional
differences and possible continuity.
Response. Regional variation is real, but it does not explain global
synchrony. Post-70kya, durable symbolism—beads, engravings, figurines,
burials—appears across Africa, Eurasia, and Sahul in a narrow window. If
regional gradualism were true, we would expect asynchronous ramps of
cumulative culture in different populations. Instead, we see a global
threshold jump.
Prediction. If gradual regional ramps existed, artifact standardization
metrics (motif repetition, bead calibers, tool complexity) would show
stepwise regional increases over >500k years. Instead, they show late,
abrupt synchronization.
6. The Theological Objection: “Invoking divine activation is not scientific.
”
Claim. APH introduces theological concepts (rūḥ, divine selection), which
critics may dismiss as outside science.
Response. APH is a testable scientific hypothesis. It predicts:
1.No durable, cumulative symbolism globally before ~120kya.
2.No single late coding mutation sufficient for symbolic ignition.
3.Post-70kya synchrony across continents.
4.Regulatory synchrony in ancient African DNA, not single-locus sweeps.
These are empirical and falsifiable. The theological dimension is interpretive,
not substitutive. Science infers unseen causes (black holes, dark matter) from
footprints; APH infers activation from archaeological, mathematical, and
genetic footprints.