ragland37{at}webtv.net (Michael Ragland) wrote in message
news:...
> dmk32{at}cam.ac.uk (David Knipe) wrote 
> When it comes to making advances to and objective, scientific
> understanding of evolutionary processes our own brains conspire against
> us. Our minds have evolved not just an inability to understand certain
> aspects of evolution but our minds have evolved a literal resistance
> and, as peter might put it, a tendency to evade such realization. 
> I agree that this happens to most people, if not all. 
> I think the way you have said it could be taken to mean that this
> inability is somehow an evolutionary advantage. 
> 
> Jim
> Yes, this is exactly what I am saying. 
> 
> dmk
>   I'm not saying you 
> meant that, but I'm just pointing it out because it could confuse
> people. 
> 
> Jim
> I did mean it. So there's nothing to be confused about. 
> 
> dmk
> I think our culture has moved ahead of the evolution of our brains to
> some extent, so that we do not behave as rational beings trying to
> reproduce. 

Humans are not rational creatures at all times.  The 
reason we are not is because being rational at all 
times is counteradaptive.  See below.


> 
> Jim 
> 
> ______________________________________
> 
> How is it an evolutionary advantage Mr. McGinn?

Humans are social beings.  Our beliefs influence/dictate 
different social behaviors.  Different beliefs dictate 
different behavior.  Different social behaviors are 
called for at different points in time.  Humans achieve 
the shift in social behavior by way of a shift in belief 
system.  Certain realizations, ie. scientific "truths", 
tend to prevent, short-circuit, this ability to shift 
beliefs/social behaviors.  Thus the ability to not accept 
certain scientific truths--which manifests itself in a 
tendency for people to evade such realization--is adaptive.

BTW this is the reason that people are generally so 
resistant to evolutionary theory.

Jim
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