"David Knipe"  wrote in message
news:aq9hcg$1ets$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> > > Couldn't
> > > we just have evolved into being better at disguising our beliefs, and
> > > behaving as if we believed something different? Surely this would be
> > > an advantage in certain circumstances. For example, someone might
> > > pretend not to know about the tribal leader's one weakness (thus
> > > avoiding the inconvenience of being perceived as a threat) but then
> > > turn on him at an opportune moment.
> >
> >
> > Nothing new or speculative about that! this is at least in part
precisely
> > what we have evolved into!  Were you born yesterday?
>
> In part, yes. Why aren't we completely like that? Why do we ever give
> accidental hints as to what our true beliefs are? Sweating of the
> palms, fidgeting, ... these are all signs that we are nervous and
> possibly hiding something. Subtle intonations in our voices, and so
> on. Wouldn't we be fitter if we simply didn't do these things?
>

I answer with a counter-question:

Would we be fitter if we all lied perfectly? ;-)

(I don't thinks so!)

Peter
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