It's impossible to name a single "first" living person on Earth. Human evolution is a gradual process, not a sudden appearance of a single individual.
Understanding Human Origins
The question presumes a clear dividing line between "person" and "pre-human ancestor," which isn't scientifically accurate. The evolution of Homo sapiens was a long and complex journey spanning millions of years. There's no single moment or individual that marks the transition from one to the other.
Early Hominids
The earliest documented representative of the genus Homo is Homo habilis, emerging around 2.8 million years ago. Importantly, Homo habilis is arguably the earliest species with evidence of stone tool use. However, Homo habilis is still significantly different from modern humans (Homo sapiens). Many intermediary species existed between Homo habilis and us.
- Gradual Evolution: Human evolution involved many hominin species, each gradually developing characteristics we associate with modern humans (larger brain size, bipedalism, sophisticated tool use, etc.).
- No Clear Cut-off: Determining the exact point where a hominin becomes a "person" is subjective and depends on the definition of "person" used. This definition would vary greatly among different fields of study.
The Importance of Defining "Person"
The difficulty in answering the question highlights the complexities of human origins. We can trace our ancestry back through various hominin species, but pinpoint the "first person" is impossible without a precise, universally agreed-upon definition of what constitutes a "person". This necessitates considering factors such as cognitive ability, self-awareness, and social behavior, all of which evolved gradually over time.
