The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins cover image

Richard Dawkins & Steven Pinker Discuss The Evolution Of Pain, Fear & Language

The Poetry of Reality with Richard Dawkins

NOTE

Attraction is Rooted in Evolutionary Significance

Human attraction to beauty, particularly in romantic contexts, often aligns with ancestral survival signals rather than contemporary well-being. Certain facial features indicative of fertility, health, and youth may evoke strong attraction, despite not being the optimal choice for individual partners. This attraction is driven by signs of reproductive viability and overall health, such as disease resistance and hormonal balance. Furthermore, preferences in landscape aesthetics reveal a similar pattern, where societal resources are devoted to creating beauty in environments, often for evolutionary reasons that transcend rational explanations.

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