Too vague a criticism of too vague a target. Contrary to the received view on the left, it's not crazy to think that the fact that we are biological organisms, specifically primate with the central nervous systems of hunter-gatherers, is likely to do some explanatory work in accounting for our behavior. Whether certain evolutionary theories help explain certain behaviors, you have to look case by case at the explanation of the traits in question.
Obviously in saying this I do not sign up for the view that capitalism, hierarchy, patriarchy, sexism, and war are encoded in our genes, thus natural, unchangeable, good, justifiable, and to be encouraged. However it will be so taken by some here.
jks
--- Dwayne Monroe <idoru345 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> One of the remarkable things about this list is that
> it attracts a vast gallery
> of eyeballs -- many more *lurkers* than regular
> participants.
>
> So I'm sure someone out there -- perhaps an evo
> psych enthusiast so enraged by
> this attack on their field they knocked the
> neolithic man action figure from
> their desk -- is readying a learned reply.
>
>
> Still...
>
>
> I became convinced evo psych was not quite the
> nutritious meal its boosters
> claimed when, several years ago, I watched a PBS
> program on the topic.
>
> A group of evo psych adepts sat around a table being
> interviewed by a PBS worthy.
> It was a televised orgy of academic confidence.
> They were convinced, they were,
> that before too long, every aspect of human behavior
> would be explained using evo
> psych research techniques (which, to my
> non-specialist ears, sounded a lot like
> *once upon a time, pre-historic people did X,
> therefore, modern phenomena Y*
> repeated over and over again).
>
> When it comes to evaluating theory, I'm old
> fashioned: if you claim to explain
> everything, I begin to suspect that perhaps, you're
> explaining nothing.
>
>
>
>
> .d.
> ___________________________________
>
http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
>
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com