Humans are able to coordinate their actions with others from "summary" of A Natural History of Human Thinking by Michael Tomasello
Humans possess a unique ability to work together with others in order to achieve common goals. This coordination of actions is a fundamental aspect of human thinking and behavior that sets us apart from other species. This ability to collaborate with others is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history and has played a crucial role in our survival as a species. From a young age, humans demonstrate a natural inclination to cooperate and coordinate their actions with others. This is evident in the way infants and young children engage in joint activities with their caregivers and peers. Through shared activities such as playing, working, and communicating, individuals learn to understand and anticipate each other's intentions, leading to successful coordination of actions. The ability to coordinate actions with others requires a unique set of cognitive skills, including the ability to understand and interpret the actions and intentions of others. This capacity for "shared intentionality" allows individuals to work together towards a common goal, whether it be hunting for food, building shelter, or engaging in social interactions. In addition to understanding the intentions of others, humans also possess the ability to communicate and collaborate with each other through language. Language serves as a powerful tool for coordinating actions and sharing information, allowing individuals to plan and execute complex tasks together. Through language, humans can negotiate roles, delegate tasks, and solve problems cooperatively. Furthermore, the ability to coordinate actions with others is not limited to small-scale interactions but extends to larger social groups and communities. Humans have developed complex systems of cooperation and collaboration that allow us to work together on a global scale, from political organizations to economic systems to scientific collaborations.- The ability to coordinate actions with others is a defining characteristic of human thinking and behavior. This capacity for collaboration and cooperation has been essential to our success as a species and continues to shape our social interactions and cultural practices. By working together towards common goals, humans have been able to achieve remarkable feats and build thriving communities.
