Evolved mortality doesn’t have to be what is good for the individual at all , and it doesn’t have to be instinctive once culture is available. For instance, societies will evolve at least defensive warfare, and quite possible offensive warfare. That’s pretty bad for the individuals sent off to do the fighting, and they aren’t going to win “on average” if they get killed. Because it is so inherently unatractive, it has to be buttressed by a great deal of cultural mythos about how noble and glorious it is.
True… but this also opens another question, how could the “ability to believe myths that are likely to get you killed” have evolved, especially if one does not believe in group selection.
Because it’s connected with a lot of other things? It’s not that cultural morality is always inimical to the individual .. and it’s not that cultural morality is cleanly split off from cultural Everything Else. Most people have learnt how to make war, how to make families and how to make bread as part of a single package.
Because ability to believe whatever most people around believe was net beneficial. Also, the situation when going to war means risking your life and getting nothing valuable in return is rather modern.
Evolved mortality doesn’t have to be what is good for the individual at all , and it doesn’t have to be instinctive once culture is available. For instance, societies will evolve at least defensive warfare, and quite possible offensive warfare. That’s pretty bad for the individuals sent off to do the fighting, and they aren’t going to win “on average” if they get killed. Because it is so inherently unatractive, it has to be buttressed by a great deal of cultural mythos about how noble and glorious it is.
True… but this also opens another question, how could the “ability to believe myths that are likely to get you killed” have evolved, especially if one does not believe in group selection.
Because it’s connected with a lot of other things? It’s not that cultural morality is always inimical to the individual .. and it’s not that cultural morality is cleanly split off from cultural Everything Else. Most people have learnt how to make war, how to make families and how to make bread as part of a single package.
Because ability to believe whatever most people around believe was net beneficial. Also, the situation when going to war means risking your life and getting nothing valuable in return is rather modern.