Ontogeneza i filogeneza sztuki: ku naturalistycznemu rozumieniu twórczości w ujęciu Ellen Dissanayake
Art as Behavioral Adaptation: Phylogenetic and Ontogenetic Foundations in the Ethological Theory of Ellen Dissanayake

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to present and critically examine Ellen Dissanayake's ethological theory of art, which frames artistic behavior as an evolutionary adaptation. The core problem addressed is the lack of a coherent, biologically grounded framework for understanding the origins and functions of art in both ontogenetic and phylogenetic contexts. Dissanayake proposes the concept of "artification" – a behavior she characterizes as "making special" – as a universal and innate human tendency. Key findings suggest that early artistic behaviors, such as rhythmic gestures, ornamentation, and mark-making, likely evolved as adaptive responses to environmental uncertainties.

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