heiss93
4th July 2010, 19:16
So sociobiology and evolutionarily psychology is used to justify the fact that humans are naturally aggressive, hierarchical, patriarchal, selfish, warlike etc. But does the so-called stone age mind really support that? While Evopsych rejects the notion of primitive communism, the fact remains that paleolithic societies were remarkably egalitarian, and tribe members were incredibly jealous of this. In fact this leveling instinct was toward absolute material equality and fear of any would-be big man. In addition human minds evolved at times when everyone in the community would be kin, and altruistic reputation crucial. Rather than being selfish, evopysch suggests man is altruistic to a fault. And no one has ever claimed that Communism is altruistic in the sense that the vast majority of people would indeed be advancing their self-interest. Revolutionary heroism will be required at times, but surely socbio recognizes that men are willing to die for even the worst causes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimatum_game
Evopsych is big on using experimental psych to prove its points. So what about the Ultimatum game?
IF goods are distributed unfairly by the "dictator" in these games, people are willing to "pay" to punish inequality even if they get no benefit from it. Thus dictators are forced to distribute 50-50 even if rational self-interest calls for 99-1 and for the prole to accept 1 better than 0. And this is in US culture. Among the Maya, participants actually give the other 52-51 because they figure the other guy needs it more.
Not that I think socbio or evopsych is objectively true. Its more of a capitalist historical materialism. A science of conservatism. But even on its own merits it suggests that human nature is egalitarian and jealously leveling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimatum_game
Evopsych is big on using experimental psych to prove its points. So what about the Ultimatum game?
IF goods are distributed unfairly by the "dictator" in these games, people are willing to "pay" to punish inequality even if they get no benefit from it. Thus dictators are forced to distribute 50-50 even if rational self-interest calls for 99-1 and for the prole to accept 1 better than 0. And this is in US culture. Among the Maya, participants actually give the other 52-51 because they figure the other guy needs it more.
Not that I think socbio or evopsych is objectively true. Its more of a capitalist historical materialism. A science of conservatism. But even on its own merits it suggests that human nature is egalitarian and jealously leveling.