Quote:
Originally Posted by OccultHawk
I’m like 90% with you but I still feel like you you’re not giving enough deference to my point that the seemingly most plausible theories often don’t hold up under the strict scrutiny of science.
What you’re describing is almost identical to what Richard Dawkins theorized. And Desmond Morris for that matter. I like that stuff and think it’s important to understand and I’ve read The Naked Ape, The Blind Watchmaker, The Selfish Gene, and a couple others by Dawkins.
But it’s also, like I said, important to see what EO Wilson has to say on the matter.
Sorry for the braggadocio litany on what I’ve read (all pop science anyway really)
It’s just that when you get into the specifics of men are like this because... and women are like this because... just because it makes good sense doesn’t mean it pans out. I know I said I’d drop it but I guess you pulled me back in for one more try.
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Well, in science there's always the possibility that something we thought we knew gets overturned. You can say the same thing with the bird example. What makes you more comfortable with that than the same concept being applied to human beings?
It doesn't mean it's sacrosanct and can never be disproven. But it is the most plausible explanation. You can literally say the same thing about climate change or even gravity. Yet when it comes to describing ourselves, that's when we become uncomfortable.
I'vr read the naked ape too and I reject the comparison. That was far more speculative than what I'm saying. I'm literally just taking this from my understanding of mainstream biology. I'm not going out on a whim out suggesting anything original.
As for Dawkins...I think the selfish gene holds up pretty well and is actually the modern orthodoxy. Some people just misunderstand the book to mean we're inherently selfish. That's just failing to see his point. Maybe there's something else you're referring to but I'm not sure.
And yes I tried to drop it too cause I'm sure we are boring everyone else to tears but I do find this interesting and elph bumped it back up so I had to respond. Maybe this needs it's own thread or something.