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- 8 06 2002 - 12:27 - katatonik

Evolutionary psychology

”... three basic premises of evolutionary psychology. First, that human beings are not born as blank slates, but are preprogrammed with specific knowledge about the world into which they are about to enter. Second, that the human mind, as well as social structures, has been selected for through the course of evolution, and that the ultimate (if not proximate) cause of human behaviour is the need to spread genes. And third, that many of the social problems which beset humanity arise from the mismatch between our genetic heritage (which is adapted for a Stone Age environment) and the world in which we live today. In effect we are Stone Age men living in a space age world. The first argument, I want to show, is largely correct, the second largely wrong, and third is specious nonsense.”

Kenan Malik: “Essay on the flaws of evolutionary psychology

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