Hope for Humanity!
Okay, at Samizdat, we're folks who have a bit of a jaded view of the human populace. But we like to celebrate victories, even if we find them to be rare among the stories of today.
For example, the adage that "[insert destructive trait here] is human nature" is a way we rationalize war, rape, hegemony, and violence, et al. Well, apparently science has proved this adage wrong!
That's from "Beyond Stones & Bones," a Newsweek article by Sharon Begley. Read it. It'll be good for ya.
The article's subhead is, "The new science of the brain and DNA is rewriting the history of human origins." And though human nature is not the article's primary focus, it feels good to know that one of the strengths that sets our species apart is the ability to trust each other and form lasting emotional bonds. Rather than the traditional view of "hunting prowess and the ability to vanquish competitors was the key to our ancestors' evolutionary success," it was all about brother/sisterhood.
So, when someone laments about the sad reality of the human condition, learn 'em about the evolutionary evidence to the contrary. Unless, of course, you're in Cobb County, Georgia.
For example, the adage that "[insert destructive trait here] is human nature" is a way we rationalize war, rape, hegemony, and violence, et al. Well, apparently science has proved this adage wrong!
Being hunted brought evolutionary pressure on our ancestors to cooperate and
live in cohesive groups. That, more than aggression and warfare, is our
evolutionary legacy. Both genetics and paleoneurology back that up.
That's from "Beyond Stones & Bones," a Newsweek article by Sharon Begley. Read it. It'll be good for ya.
The article's subhead is, "The new science of the brain and DNA is rewriting the history of human origins." And though human nature is not the article's primary focus, it feels good to know that one of the strengths that sets our species apart is the ability to trust each other and form lasting emotional bonds. Rather than the traditional view of "hunting prowess and the ability to vanquish competitors was the key to our ancestors' evolutionary success," it was all about brother/sisterhood.
So, when someone laments about the sad reality of the human condition, learn 'em about the evolutionary evidence to the contrary. Unless, of course, you're in Cobb County, Georgia.
