I don’t see the tension. Remember evolution doesn’t guarantee the perfect rule only a useful one.
For instance it might very well be the case that the cuteness response functions via certain general mechanisms shared by all mammals. Indeed to support this view is the fact that humans will often find small versions of inanimate objects cute as well. My HS chemistry teacher used to hold up a teeny tiny beaker and invariably many of the female (and a few male) students would go “awww.”
Indeed the cost to finding small bunnies cute is virtually nill (how many hungry hunter gathers do you think choose to go hungry rather than eat bunnies). Thus it’s actually far more efficient to have this general cuteness response that need not be modified as evolution changes the external appearance of the species.
Yes, one has to be wary of potential inconsistent evidence but that makes this no different than any other scientific field. I mean it’s really pretty much exactly the same as climate science.
I don’t see the tension. Remember evolution doesn’t guarantee the perfect rule only a useful one.
For instance it might very well be the case that the cuteness response functions via certain general mechanisms shared by all mammals. Indeed to support this view is the fact that humans will often find small versions of inanimate objects cute as well. My HS chemistry teacher used to hold up a teeny tiny beaker and invariably many of the female (and a few male) students would go “awww.”
Indeed the cost to finding small bunnies cute is virtually nill (how many hungry hunter gathers do you think choose to go hungry rather than eat bunnies). Thus it’s actually far more efficient to have this general cuteness response that need not be modified as evolution changes the external appearance of the species.
Yes, one has to be wary of potential inconsistent evidence but that makes this no different than any other scientific field. I mean it’s really pretty much exactly the same as climate science.