On evolution
This entry was posted on 10/19/2011 10:44 AM and is filed under Science, Books, Philosophy.
I have been reading several books in the new field of evolutionary psychology. There is much here that is interesting. Key idea is the notion of brain modules that developed over time and are relatively unconnected to each other. Thus we are all multiple minded people. This helps explain how we can hold disparate, if not contradicting, ideas and views. Brilliant idea, but there is a lingering problem. I can't help but think none of these writers actually understand evolution. The old obsession with sex in psychology somewhat twists their view. Everything becomes a strategy for sexual success. The problem is this isn't really what is happening with evolution. Yes, reproduction is a basic element of living creatures. It is not the driving force of evolution. It is much more indirect than that. Random genetic mutation is the driving force. Any mutation that has positive adaptive consequences enters the fray and is sorted out through the process of reproduction. The key here is that this process is very indirect and occurs over a very long period of time. This tends to be understood in the abstract by these authors, but they tend to slip into arguing that it is more actively happening at each sexual encounter. It all reminds me of the argument that specific weather events are caused by global warming. No scientist of worth makes this claim, but the qualification is often lost in the wake of modern communication. It isn't that they don't agree about the nature of global warming, it is only that they agree to state it as precisely as possible. This results in an overall appearance of uncertainty which is more accurately simply a distrust of absolute certainty. Evolution, and science generally, is far better at framing the questions and allowing practical solutions than at answering any specific question with an absolute answer. Psychology doesn't always stay on this side of the road. There is too much of a tendency to declare that this or that explains everything. It doesn't. Read the books, but don't fall for the claims of being scientific. It is still psychology.
