On Sun, 29 May 2005, Bill Bartlett wrote:
> Hardy doesn't seem to have the slightest grasp of how evolution works. The
> "Darwinian logic behind the female orgasm" is hardly "elusive", it seems
> fairly obvious to me that it might support the bond between parents over the
> extended period necessary for humans to rear their children. The "Darwinian
> logic" is that children being supported by two parents generally have an
> advantage over children supported only by one parent and sex seems to help to
> keep mother and father on the team. I would have thought it unnecessary to
> spell out that an ongoing sex life is more likely if both parents are
> enjoying it.
Cue Justin; more "just so" stories! I can't resist engaging in speculation, though: Bill's argument doesn't even seem to work as a "just so" adaptation story. If a woman can have an orgasm with any sexual partner, male, female or herself (remember that intercourse is definitely not necessary!), why on earth would she be compelled to form a pair bond with just one man? You could just as plausibly argue that orgasm would encourage a variety of sexual relationships (but of course, that doesn't fit the "women are monogamous" stereotype, so we don't tend to make up "just so" stories about women's natural promiscuity).
Miles