5 ms·
Can evolutionary theory even be taken seriously? It seems some people, especially in the ‘manosphere’ accept it as Gospel. It used to attract me because ‘oh wha
by cko 9y ago
Can evolutionary theory even be taken seriously? It seems some people, especially in the ‘manosphere’ accept it as Gospel. It used to attract me because ‘oh what a convenient explanation for everything’ but later I started thinking that’s all it was - something fun to think about but not a foundation for policy or practical action.
- antisthenes 9y agoIt's a good thing we don't reject scientific theories simply off them being too convenient then. Not that it makes evo psych valid, but I've yet to see good papers from either side, and I doubt there ever will be, since mating strategies will always remain a highly contested topic, regardless of what science says.
- Omnius 9y agoScience doesn't work the way you think it works.
- DoodleBuggy 9y ago> Can evolutionary theory even be taken seriously? As opposed to what? Are you a proponent of creative design or young earth creationism? > especially in the ‘manosphere’ accept it as Gospel What is a "manosphere"?
- wackro 9y ago> What is a "manosphere"? I don't know but it sounds... sweaty.
- cko 9y agoNo, I wasn’t careful with word choice. I was referring to highly theoretical field of evolutionary psychology. The manosphere is a place where male bloggers try to understand the dynamics of mating and sometimes evolutionary psychology is used as evidence.
- mercer 9y agoMy impression is that evolutionary psychology is largely all the worst parts of psychology made appealing because, well, who can argue with evolution.
- cko 9y agoI just re-read my comment. Sounded like I was questioning evolution itself. I was referring specifically to the behavioral bits, like: > From an evolutionary perspective, male infidelity is fairly straightforward. Men have evolved a strong desire for sexual variety, stronger than women’s on average, due to the large asymmetries in parental investment. Men can reproduce with as little effort as it takes to inseminate a fertile woman. Women require a metabolically costly nine-month pregnancy to produce a single child. ... and using that to explain human behavior or psychology. I guess the field is known more as behavioral or evolutionary psychology.