Possibly dumb question about socialization/sociability

[Gordon Fitch]

Suppose we confine ourselves to science, and rigorously
avoid lit- and cult-crit, while admitting those portions of
psychology, sociology and anthropology which seem firmly
grounded in material evidence.  What can we prove, scientifically
speaking, about the degree to which humans are necessarily
social animals, and the degree to which they are individuals,
as dictated by their _material_ characteristics?  How nonsocial
can human beings be, and still live (as a species)?  Could
they live like those animals which meet only to breed?  What
happens to humans who don't grow up in world containing
language? Have any anthro or socio folks gone into this issue?

I realize this seems like a dumb question, and I'm hoping to
get the very snappy yet profound answers which truly dumb 
questions merit.