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Old 6th November 2012, 10:06 AM   #36
joesixpack
Illuminator
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,531
Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger View Post
I don't agree there is a direct survival/better life advantage. That concept of evolution has been modified a bit with our larger body of knowledge.

Assuming one can apply the rules of biological evolution to cultural evolution, some things are selected that have a neutral advantage and even some traits with a negative selection pressure can be amplified by other circumstances.
Objective conditions change more quickly than culture. I think the Lamarckian evolution of culture allows for changes that may (obviously) occur in less than a a generation. Certain traits with negative selection pressure might persist, but only to a point. the greater the cost to individuals, the more quickly they will change.


Quote:
Who knows how such a horrid culture evolved.
Probably under horrid objective material conditions.
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