And here we find ourselves in a country in which the far right believes in creationism or at least intelligent design and the far left believes that we are born with a blank slate.
The problem with much of evolutionary psychology - in my non-expert opinion - seems to be the gap between offering plausible explanations for human behavior, and providing convincing evidence that those explanations are in fact correct.
Reciprocal altruism is the one idea that is most repugnant to those who demand it the most: The Religious! God is love? Selfless? Give selflessly and you will receive? Forgive us our debts? Jihad for salvation? Sacrifice to receive. Yes the religious hate to see that their gods demand reciprocation. A truly wonderful essay about someone I rely on in my own work. But indeed a self deceived expert on the evolutionary advantage of deception, trickery and fraud.
I don't see how the premise that "the religious hate to see that their gods demand reciprocation" applies to Christians. What they want from God is admission to paradise after death, and they believe that in order to obtain it they must acknowledge their sins, repent of them, and pray for salvation. Those religious obligations are pretty light, and although I am not Christian I've been closely acquainted with a fair number of them (including my spouse and an adult daughter) and it's not apparent to me that any of them resents being saddled with those duties, let alone finds them hateful.
This is the best obituary I've ever read.
And here we find ourselves in a country in which the far right believes in creationism or at least intelligent design and the far left believes that we are born with a blank slate.
Merci de ce magnifique hommage à un génie méconnu !
The problem with much of evolutionary psychology - in my non-expert opinion - seems to be the gap between offering plausible explanations for human behavior, and providing convincing evidence that those explanations are in fact correct.
Thank you, Mr. Pinker.
I was faintly acquainted with Robert Trivers during his time at UCSC. We liked each other.
Your essay includes all of my impressions of him.
Reciprocal altruism is the one idea that is most repugnant to those who demand it the most: The Religious! God is love? Selfless? Give selflessly and you will receive? Forgive us our debts? Jihad for salvation? Sacrifice to receive. Yes the religious hate to see that their gods demand reciprocation. A truly wonderful essay about someone I rely on in my own work. But indeed a self deceived expert on the evolutionary advantage of deception, trickery and fraud.
I don't see how the premise that "the religious hate to see that their gods demand reciprocation" applies to Christians. What they want from God is admission to paradise after death, and they believe that in order to obtain it they must acknowledge their sins, repent of them, and pray for salvation. Those religious obligations are pretty light, and although I am not Christian I've been closely acquainted with a fair number of them (including my spouse and an adult daughter) and it's not apparent to me that any of them resents being saddled with those duties, let alone finds them hateful.