[lbo-talk] Just-so stories (was re: Language of Contempt)

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

On 6/5/06, Luke Weiger <lweiger at umich.edu> wrote:
> Yoshie wrote, "What's funny about 'just-so' stories of origins of this,
> that, and
> other things is that they are all elaborate attempts to avoid the
> obvious explanation.  Q. What's the advantage of having multiple
> partners?  A. It relieves tedium."
>
> No.  In this case, they're attempts to explain why it is that monogomy tends
> to become tedious under certain conditions.  I'm sure you familiar with the
> distinction between proximate and ultimate causes.  It's helpful here.
>
> -- Luke

Few people have practiced monogamy except when they have been forced
to do so, and even then they have flouted the law or custom, even at
the potential cost of grave penalties.  It's human nature to be a bit
nutty and a bit slutty, to use David Brock's infamous phrase against
the grain.  Lust doesn't last.  It's monogamy that needs explaining,
if anything.

-- 
Yoshie
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