Re: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
Why do they believe this? First, explicit evolutionary thinking can sometimes eliminate certain kinds of errors in thinking about behavior (Symons, 1987). Evolutionary theory is only intended to explain how living organisms evolve. Applying it to any other field of inquiry puts you on VERY shaky ground. It's presently being used to predict primate (human) behavior. Although it's politically incorrect, it's scientifically true. primate and human behaviour is not the same, so such research is not scientific. Eva Jay [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
I'm glad there are people who can compose more concisely...Eva Why do they believe this? First, explicit evolutionary thinking can sometimes eliminate certain kinds of errors in thinking about behavior (Symons, 1987). ... and so on. Evolutionary theory is only intended to explain how living organisms evolve. Applying it to any other field of inquiry puts you on VERY shaky ground. *** Regards, Dave Palmer [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
- Original Message - From: Eva Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] Why do they believe this? First, explicit evolutionary thinking can sometimes eliminate certain kinds of errors in thinking about behavior (Symons, 1987). Evolutionary theory is only intended to explain how living organisms evolve. Applying it to any other field of inquiry puts you on VERY shaky ground. It's presently being used to predict primate (human) behavior. Although it's politically incorrect, it's scientifically true. Jay
Re: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
Jay, It is no more scientifically true than that the sun and planets revolve around the earth. What is really funny is that Darwin purloined his principle of selection through competition from classical economics, from Malthus in fact. So you take the dog eat dog mythology of early capitalism and apply it to biology and then "prove" that hierarchical social systems are evolutionarily determined because evolutionary biology proves it to be so. Tosh. It is a tautology from beginning to end. (As is the Darwinian "Theory" of Evolution, but that is another story). for those who would like the fine print of the argument see Richard Lewontin (a biologist who can actually think rather than merely regurgitate) Biology as Ideology. It was one of the Massey Lectures and can be sourced at the the CBC's website under the program Ideas. Mike H - Original Message - From: Eva Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] Why do they believe this? First, explicit evolutionary thinking can sometimes eliminate certain kinds of errors in thinking about behavior (Symons, 1987). Evolutionary theory is only intended to explain how living organisms evolve. Applying it to any other field of inquiry puts you on VERY shaky ground. It's presently being used to predict primate (human) behavior. Although it's politically incorrect, it's scientifically true. Jay
Re: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
- Original Message - From: Mike Hollinshead [EMAIL PROTECTED] It is no more scientifically true than that the sun and planets revolve around the earth. What is really funny is that Darwin purloined his principle of selection through competition from classical economics, from Malthus in fact. So you take the dog eat dog mythology of early capitalism and apply it to biology and then "prove" that hierarchical social systems are evolutionarily determined because evolutionary biology proves it to be so. Tosh. It is a tautology from beginning to end. (As is the Darwinian "Theory" of Evolution, but that is another story). Hierarchy -- not hierarchical social systems -- has been observed in all social primates. And in dogs, cats, lions, etc. I suppose on another planet things might look different, but here on earth, primates are genetically predisposed to hierarchy. Hierarchy empirically true -- it's everywhere -- the birds do it, the bees do it, the aardvarks do it, the Green Bay Packers do it, etc. Jay for those who would like the fine print of the argument see Richard Lewontin (a biologist who can actually think rather than merely regurgitate) Biology as Ideology. It was one of the Massey Lectures and can be sourced at the the CBC's website under the program Ideas. Mike H - Original Message - From: Eva Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] Why do they believe this? First, explicit evolutionary thinking can sometimes eliminate certain kinds of errors in thinking about behavior (Symons, 1987). Evolutionary theory is only intended to explain how living organisms evolve. Applying it to any other field of inquiry puts you on VERY shaky ground. It's presently being used to predict primate (human) behavior. Although it's politically incorrect, it's scientifically true. Jay
Re: (Fwd) HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY (fwd)
- Original Message - From: Durant [EMAIL PROTECTED] primate and human behaviour is not the same, so such research is not scientific. Evolutionary scientists include humans unless stated otherwise. Scientists are using the theory of evolution to predict human behavior: - Third, and most important, the theory of evolution can be used to help scholars and scientists develop substantive testable predictions about human behavior. Cosmides (1989) used it to make predictions about content effects in logical reasoning. Silverman and Eals (1992) used it to make predictions about gender differences in spatial abilities. Singh (1993) used it to make predictions about preferences for body images. Buss (1994) used it to make predictions about gender differences in mate choice criteria and tactics for acquiring mates. Orians and Heerwagen (1992) used it to make predictions about evoked responses to landscapes. Several chapters in Part III of this book discuss recent research in which various aspects of evolutionary theory were used to derive testable predictions about human behavior. [pp. 8-10] HANDBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY: Ideas Issues and Applications, Eds. Charles Crawford Dennis Krebs; Lawrence Erlbaum, 1998 http://www.erlbaum.com/2621.htm
