4 ms·

Eh.. you're going to have to provide something other than a constructed "just so" story to get anyone to believe that musical talent has been specifically selec

Eh.. you're going to have to provide something other than a constructed "just so" story to get anyone to believe that musical talent has been specifically selected for. It's not impossible, but it's not at all obvious either.

teekert 7y ago
At the very least it is weird that the article says nothing about sexual selection, it is the go to hypothesis (that of course subsequently requires proof) for weirdness. Like a peacock's super unhandy tail. Or the building of blue nests and performing weird dances in them by certain birds. If evolution lead to apparent wasting of energy, it is almost certainly sex related. But I guess it is a mystery of evolution to a dentist. Maybe said dentist (Martin Nweeia) should talk to an evolutionary biologist before appearing in blogs. It's also not like the Narwhal somehow decided to not have teeth, I guess if you swallow fish whole and everything is fine, a Narwhal without teeth has more energy left and less tooth related problems and thus better survival.
TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
Humans are moderately complex, so we have multiple means of demonstrating fitness rather than just one. But there's plenty of evidence that successful public music performance is highly attractive to at least some of the population. (Noodling around with a DAW in your spare bedroom doesn't count.) I vividly remember reading a site in India which explained how expertise in one particular style of drumming was "considered useful in marital selection." In the 18th and 19th centuries, musical skill could literally be a deal maker for eligible women looking for a husband. And groupies are definitely a thing - certainly once you get to the stadium sell-out and/or internationally known DJ level. It's even rumoured that killing a karaoke session will get you admiring looks. (Etc.)
- Gravityloss 7y ago
  Probably tells you have working coordination and memory etc. Things like poem or speech recitals used to be more common too before.
- foldr 7y ago
  The fact that a trait is sexually attractive isn't good evidence that it's present as a result of sexual selection.
phkahler 7y ago
A performing musician has several desirable traits that may preclude being a musician if absent. Given the phenomenon of groupies wanting to sleep with musicians I would not be surprised if musical ability is currently being selected for.

teekert 7y ago

At the very least it is weird that the article says nothing about sexual selection, it is the go to hypothesis (that of course subsequently requires proof) for weirdness. Like a peacock's super unhandy tail. Or the building of blue nests and performing weird dances in them by certain birds. If evolution lead to apparent wasting of energy, it is almost certainly sex related. But I guess it is a mystery of evolution to a dentist. Maybe said dentist (Martin Nweeia) should talk to an evolutionary biologist before appearing in blogs. It's also not like the Narwhal somehow decided to not have teeth, I guess if you swallow fish whole and everything is fine, a Narwhal without teeth has more energy left and less tooth related problems and thus better survival.

TheOtherHobbes 7y ago

Humans are moderately complex, so we have multiple means of demonstrating fitness rather than just one. But there's plenty of evidence that successful public music performance is highly attractive to at least some of the population. (Noodling around with a DAW in your spare bedroom doesn't count.) I vividly remember reading a site in India which explained how expertise in one particular style of drumming was "considered useful in marital selection." In the 18th and 19th centuries, musical skill could literally be a deal maker for eligible women looking for a husband. And groupies are definitely a thing - certainly once you get to the stadium sell-out and/or internationally known DJ level. It's even rumoured that killing a karaoke session will get you admiring looks. (Etc.)

Gravityloss 7y ago
Probably tells you have working coordination and memory etc. Things like poem or speech recitals used to be more common too before.
foldr 7y ago
The fact that a trait is sexually attractive isn't good evidence that it's present as a result of sexual selection.

phkahler 7y ago

A performing musician has several desirable traits that may preclude being a musician if absent. Given the phenomenon of groupies wanting to sleep with musicians I would not be surprised if musical ability is currently being selected for.