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Hominin is a valid word, it refers to the larger group of humans and proto-human ancestors which are part of the homo genus.

So the author meant... in the classic style of humans and their proto-human ancestors? Uh...

I suspect not. But it's still a valid word.

Yes, the author meant that searching for explanations is a basic human instinct.

I think you are thinking of "hominid".

Hominid used to mean that, but now it includes the great apes.

Hominin is the current term for the human branch that split from the chimpanzee branch about 6 million years ago.