<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, 21 Mar 2024 at 09:00, efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div>
<br></div><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><snip></span><br><div>
<br>
But those traits are not deterministic. They can be controlled and <br>
channeled into productive things. If that were not the case, we would not <br>
sit here in peace philosophizing. =)<br>

> _______________________________________________<br></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">All the AIs I asked, agreed with this POV, saying the same opinion in various ways.</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">BillK</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">I asked -</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-md gmail-svelte-ftv0x7 gmail-chatbot">Evolutionary psychology claims 
that humans have been selected for psychological traits leading them to 
wars.  The logic of the genes is that when humans have a resource 
shortage, in order to live they need to kill someone and take their 
resources.  Are those traits deterministic? Or can they be controlled 
and channelled into more productive behaviour?</span></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-md gmail-svelte-ftv0x7 gmail-chatbot"><br></span></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-md gmail-svelte-ftv0x7 gmail-chatbot">This response is from Perplexity AI Pro -</span></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-md gmail-svelte-ftv0x7 gmail-chatbot">(I haven't checked all the citations!)  :)</span></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><span class="gmail-md gmail-svelte-ftv0x7 gmail-chatbot"><br></span></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">Evolutionary psychology explores how psychological traits and behaviors have been shaped by natural selection to solve problems of survival and reproduction throughout human history. This field posits that certain psychological mechanisms, including those related to aggression and conflict, have been selected for because they provided evolutionary advantages in specific contexts, such as resource competition or defense against threats[1][4][7]. However, it's crucial to understand that evolutionary psychology does not advocate for genetic determinism—the idea that genes alone determine behavior—nor does it suggest that humans are inevitably driven to war by their genetic makeup.<br><br>The concept of genetic determinism is nuanced within evolutionary psychology. For instance, the doctrine of statistical variation acknowledges that individual differences can be attributed to both genetic and environmental determinants in varying proportions[2]. This perspective highlights that while genetic influences are significant, they do not rigidly determine behavior. Environmental factors and individual experiences play a crucial role in shaping how genetic predispositions are expressed. For example, advancements in society and technology have dramatically changed the ways in which humans interact with their environment and each other, illustrating that genetic predispositions are not immutable[2].<br><br>Moreover, evolutionary psychology emphasizes the interactions between genes and the environment, arguing against a simplistic view of genetic determinism[5]. It acknowledges that while the brain and its psychological mechanisms have evolved to solve problems faced by our ancestors, the expression of these mechanisms is influenced by current environmental and social contexts. This perspective suggests that traits related to aggression and conflict can be modulated and directed in ways that are beneficial to modern society.<br><br>The field also posits that humans have evolved complex social behaviors, including cooperation and altruism, alongside competitive and aggressive behaviors[4][7]. These cooperative traits have been crucial for survival in environments where working together provided a better chance of success than working alone. This indicates that humans are not solely driven by aggressive competition but also by the capacity for collaboration and peaceful coexistence.<br><br>In summary, while evolutionary psychology suggests that certain psychological traits related to conflict and aggression have been selected for throughout human evolution, it does not imply that these traits are deterministic or that humans are doomed to engage in war. Instead, it highlights the flexibility and adaptability of human behavior, suggesting that aggressive and competitive impulses can be channeled into productive and cooperative behaviors through social, cultural, and environmental influences[2][5]. This view supports the idea that understanding our evolutionary past can help us shape a future where innate tendencies are directed towards positive outcomes, emphasizing the role of societal structures, education, and individual choices in mitigating conflict and fostering cooperation.<br><br>Citations:<br>[1] <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1474704917742720">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1474704917742720</a><br>[2] <a href="http://www.personalityresearch.org/evolutionary/determinism.html">http://www.personalityresearch.org/evolutionary/determinism.html</a><br>[3] <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292234/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3292234/</a><br>[4] <a href="https://www.psychologywizard.net/evolutionary-psychology-ao1-ao2-ao3.html">https://www.psychologywizard.net/evolutionary-psychology-ao1-ao2-ao3.html</a><br>[5] <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26308560/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26308560/</a><br>[6] <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1620732114">https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1620732114</a><br>[7] <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3260849/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3260849/</a><br>[8] <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2223164/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2223164/</a><br>[9] <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/147470491201000502">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/147470491201000502</a><br>[10] <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016726811730255X">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016726811730255X</a><br>[11] <a href="https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/issues-debates-types-of-determinism">https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/issues-debates-types-of-determinism</a><br>[12] <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982207014996">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982207014996</a><br>[13] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_warrior_hypothesis">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_warrior_hypothesis</a><br>[14] <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259739261_Biological_determinism_fatalism_Are_they_extreme_cases_of_influence_in_Evolutionary_Psychology">https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259739261_Biological_determinism_fatalism_Are_they_extreme_cases_of_influence_in_Evolutionary_Psychology</a><br>[15] <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29237297/">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29237297/</a><br>[16] <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/0470854189.ch12">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/0470854189.ch12</a><br>[17] <a href="https://researchoutreach.org/articles/developing-nature-human-aggression-psychological-traits-evolved/">https://researchoutreach.org/articles/developing-nature-human-aggression-psychological-traits-evolved/</a><br>[18] <a href="https://news.umich.edu/what-evolutionary-researchers-believe-and-dont-about-human-psychology-and-behavior/">https://news.umich.edu/what-evolutionary-researchers-believe-and-dont-about-human-psychology-and-behavior/</a><br>[19] <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/evan.21439">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/evan.21439</a><br>[20] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_evolutionary_psychology">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_evolutionary_psychology</a></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">------------------------------------------<br></div></div></div>