Ch. 11 - Evolutionary Psychology...

[Chris OConnor]

Ch. 11 - Evolutionary Psychology: Lorenz on Aggression

Please discuss Chapter 11 in this thread.

[WildCityWoman]

Evolutionary Psychology: Lorenz on Aggression

Background Theory: Evolution;
Lorenz's Theory of Animal Nature;
Theory of Human Nature;
Diagnosis;
Prescription;
Critical Discussion

[DWill]

I recalled reading King solomon's Ring about a hundred years ago. Don't remember much about it other than thinking that Lorenz was exceptional as a popularizer of his branch of science. He had some jackdaws (I believe) who became his bosom buddies.

At any rate, the chapter got the taste of B. F. Skinner out of my mouth! I thought Stevenson did well in puncturing what initially seem like plausible analogies between humans and other animals. He also identified how unlikely it is that natural selection could operate on a group level regarding the trait of aggression. Unlike Lorenz, I think that the trait of aggression doesn't apply so exclusively to group against group (providing the evolutionary rationale). Aggression is plenty common within groups, just look at our murder rates. And what is the evolutionary function of that?

But I favor an evolutionary view in general, so I naturally like Lorenz even if in this one instance he might be on shaky ground. I know some Christians who say they see no contradiction between evolution and their religious beliefs. The difference between them and me is that I don't just not object to evolution, I base a lot of my outlook on it. It's the prime fact in understanding ourselves biologically.