Friday, August 07, 2020
Constants and Variables 153, decolletage edition
Klinghoffer at Evolution News does a good solid Constants and Variables takedown of a study on human modesty.
But this overlooks why ONLY humans (and Arabian babblers) do this although from an evolutionary perspective “maintain[ing] control over a sexual partner” while at the same time “allowing for continued cooperation within a group” would not seem to be imperatives unique to humans. Other animal species thrive and do just fine, mating in public and giving no thought to covering up with clothing. It’s the human exception that needs explaining, so citing factors that are far from exceptional to humans as an explanation is not going to persuade me.Excellent C and V. But then Klinghoffer misses a broader point that would actually strengthen his case. He shows a screencap from a 1914 movie starring Klinghoffer's own grandfather, who acted in a series of melodramas. He notes that the lady in the scene is showing major decolletage, which seemed unusual for 1914. He points out that the Hays Code shut down this type of teasing in movies, which proves that humans are modest. That's not the real variable. Humans always like to display our attributes. The standard for display is determined by current fashion, but there's always a permissible way to do it. This is a constant. All animals and plants display their sexual attributes, often in hugely complex and energy-consuming ways. The variable is our need for privacy in the actions of sex and pooping. Most animals, emphatically including our monkey relatives, treat both of the actions as a form of display. We like to do both in private.
Labels: AI point-missing, Constants and Variables
¶ 10:44 PM
