Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Is evolutionary psychology just a bunch of "just so" stories? (with Geoffrey Miller)
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Sep 13, 2023 Geoffrey Miller, an evolutionary psychologist and author renowned for his work on mate choice and signaling theory, dives into the intriguing world of human behavior. He tackles the skepticism surrounding evolutionary psychology and its implications on dating and aggression. The conversation explores insights drawn from primate behavior and cultural variations, particularly concerning taboos like incest. Miller also discusses the role of AI and the importance of aligning it with human values, highlighting the complex relationship between evolution, culture, and modern technology.
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Political Resistance to Evopsych
- People resist evolutionary explanations for specific behaviors due to political concerns, not scientific ones.
- They fear such explanations justify negative behaviors like aggression or sexual coercion.
Naturalistic Fallacy and Change
- The naturalistic fallacy falsely assumes that evolved traits are inherently good.
- Evolutionary basis doesn't imply immutability; understanding it can empower behavioral change.
Evopsych as Empirical Science
- The "just so stories" critique of evolutionary psychology is overblown.
- Evopsych uses data and hypotheses like any empirical science, leading to rejected hypotheses and iterative improvements.
