[ExI] bonobos vs. chimps

[John Grigg]

Damien,

Has science fiction ever explored a humanity that directly evolved
from bonobo chimps and kept their key characteristics?  Their world
would sure be different...

John

On 6/5/10, Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> On 6/5/2010 4:28 PM, spike wrote:
>
>> I think
>> what we see in this case is speciation as a result of a slight difference
>> in
>> behavior: dominant males-win-chimps = bigger individuals, stronger, a
>> meaner, often murderously violent society, as opposed to
>> ladies-choice-bonobos = smaller individuals, peaceful, a share the food
>> and
>> fuck everything in sight society.
>
> In a novel I just read, it was suggested that because bonobos fuck
> everything in sight and are fucked by everything in sight no male can be
> sure of paternity, so they are far less rewarded (genetically) by
> killing a new mate's previous kids, which chimps like doing. This
> differential then cascades through into other phenotypic and behavior
> differences. Analogies come to mind.
>
> Damien Broderick
>
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