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Post by Tamrin on Mar 26, 2012 5:18:15 GMT 10
The sexual revolution is still happening. Would you like to turn back the clock? That's not what he is advocating and you know it.The complimentary question is, "Should the revolution continue to unfold (or has it already gone too far)?"
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Post by Tamrin on Mar 26, 2012 7:25:23 GMT 10
Again, this is learned behavior over-riding innate behavior. Now all we need do is locate that learning-free and darned elusive innate behaviour, presumably that of Rousseau's "Noble Savage."If this elusive "ghost in the machine" we are calling innate behaviour, can be so readily over-ridden it must, if it exists at all, be very faint and fragile. WWOD? (what would Ockham do)?
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Post by brandt on Mar 26, 2012 10:02:52 GMT 10
If all behavior is learned then it must have been taught. Who taught, people who had previously learned, and on and on. We could stipulate that at one time there was one who did not learn and just had all this behavior to teach. Perhaps it was aliens that taught it or a storm god sending rules down from the mountain.
Things do not come from nothingness. Behavior doesn't just occur. Are there any examples of unique behavior in any group of people?
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Post by Smithee on Mar 26, 2012 10:38:15 GMT 10
If all behavior is learned then it must have been taught. Who taught, people who had previously learned, and on and on. We could stipulate that at one time there was one who did not learn and just had all this behavior to teach. Perhaps it was aliens that taught it or a storm god sending rules down from the mountain. Things do not come from nothingness. Behavior doesn't just occur. Are there any examples of unique behavior in any group of people? Memes evolve as do genes. There are the options of trial and error as with herb lore. There is bootstrap learning which features in some scientific disciplines. There is imitative learning in which we copy the behaviour of others including other species. There is also the possibility that many species ago we learnt from our instinct-driven ancestors. I expect that learnt behaviours are common among vertebrates. That instinct is more the exception than the rule among mammals. That primates especially apes exhibit few instincts and that instincts are non-existent in humans. Prove me wrong. Are there any examples of unique behavior in any group of people? Are there any examples of universal behaviours?
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Post by brandt on Mar 26, 2012 11:01:31 GMT 10
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Post by Smithee on Mar 26, 2012 11:32:40 GMT 10
You are actually suggesting that primates have few instincts or that they are non-existent? Proving that wrong has been done many years ago. I suspect you are fully aware of this. Few instincts. As stated.
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Post by Smithee on Mar 26, 2012 11:41:06 GMT 10
Asking if there are any examples of universal behaviors is a separate question. Have you an answer to the question of any examples of unique behavior in any group of people? Since it is suggested that human behavior is so widely varied then it shouldn't be difficult to address that question. The question of unique behaviours is as difficult as is the drawing of boundaries within and between neighbouring societies. Sometimes customs skip borders. We can however identify various opposite behaviours. Polygamy or multiple wives for example which is fairly common versus the custom of Polyandry or multiple husbands as was common in Tibet. If you are trying to prove a behaviour is innate the first step would be to show it to be universal.
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Post by brandt on Mar 26, 2012 13:03:39 GMT 10
One would have to dig into the reasons for polyandry in Tibet or other marriage customs.
The first step is to understand that, from an evolutionary perspective, there is no decent argument that society does not exist and that it does not have a strong influence (much in the same way that there is no decent argument that the body does not exist and does have a strong influence). If we are to consider that all is learned then there should be few (unless we can prove a primacy of cultural imperialism but that would be a tough sell) if any universal behaviors. I did provide a list.
The questions remain. It should not be difficult under the hypothesis that all is learned. That should provide testable hypotheses that could be clearly demonstrated.
Polygamy, by law or custom or practice, is still going on and is still quite common. Sometimes even when there are legal and social prohibitions. One would think that they have been taught not to do that.
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Post by Smithee on Mar 26, 2012 13:11:33 GMT 10
I will need time to digest these.
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Post by Smithee on Mar 26, 2012 13:16:12 GMT 10
One would have to dig into the reasons for polyandry in Tibet or other marriage customs. The reasons would only be of interest if the behaviour was not innate.
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