This. So very much this. I'm fond of reminding everyone who keeps asking "so why did we evolve X trait?" that not all traits "selected" by evolution have an advantage. In order to survive in the population, a trait simply has to confer no particular disadvantage compared to another extant version of the same genes.
Also, I don't know where you're finding these idiots who claim that an evolutionary tendency to behave a certain way excuses any sort of assholism, but they need to STFU. The only reason I am interested in knowing which, if any, behavioral traits are truly innate to humanity is so that we can figure out how to work with those behaviors to our best advantage. Perhaps the simplest and somewhat silly example of this is the justification for team sports as a healthy way to channel aggression and group-bonding behavior. We don't need wars-- we have football!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-03-23 01:38 am (UTC)Also, I don't know where you're finding these idiots who claim that an evolutionary tendency to behave a certain way excuses any sort of assholism, but they need to STFU. The only reason I am interested in knowing which, if any, behavioral traits are truly innate to humanity is so that we can figure out how to work with those behaviors to our best advantage. Perhaps the simplest and somewhat silly example of this is the justification for team sports as a healthy way to channel aggression and group-bonding behavior. We don't need wars-- we have football!