Posted on 11/13/2008 4:31:39 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Now a new theory is emerging that challenges the prevailing view that warfare is a product of human culture and thus a relatively recent phenomenon. For the first time, anthropologists, archaeologists, primatologists, psychologists and political scientists are approaching a consensus. Not only is war as ancient as humankind, they say, but it has played an integral role in our evolution. The theory helps explain the evolution of familiar aspects of warlike behaviour such as gang warfare. And even suggests the cooperative skills we've had to develop to be effective warriors have turned into the modern ability to work towards a common goal... Primatologists have known for some time that organised, lethal violence is common between groups of chimpanzees, our closest relatives. Whether between chimps or hunter-gatherers, however, intergroup violence is nothing like modern pitched battles. Instead, it tends to take the form of brief raids using overwhelming force, so that the aggressors run little risk of injury. "It's not like the Somme," says Richard Wrangham, a primatologist at Harvard University. "You go off, you make a hit, you come back again." This opportunistic violence helps the aggressors weaken rival groups and thus expand their territorial holdings.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
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They were.
LOL!
” For the first time, anthropologists, archaeologists, primatologists, psychologists and political scientists are approaching a consensus.”
Also cosmetologists, etheral body travelers, hamburgerologists, and Avon bottle collectors. That clinches it!
And then there was Monty ...
Just because it’s consensus doesn’t mean it’s correct.
There was an interesting program recently on PBS about baboon behavioral change. Baboons are normally quite aggressive and there is a lot of tension and nervousness withing the troop. One large troop took to raiding the garbage heap of a hospital. Naturally the most aggressive got the most loot, unfortunately there was a lot of tuberculosis in that hospital, and presumably infected waste food and body wastes. Soon many baboons were dying, and especially the aggressive ones.
When the troop recovered it had a much gentler nature. There was much mutual grooming behavior and very little tension. What does this say about the future of humans?
gorilla my dreams. /old joke alert
The whole lot of ‘em need to see a proctologist. /rimshot (so to speak) /double rimshot
it sez that, after eight years of Obama, we’ll all be at risk from TB.
Yipes!
I was making light of the “proof by consensus” idea.
Nice thing about theories, like spray paint they can cover everything no matter how thinly.
At least with Redi-whip spray bombs, one can get high on the nitrous oxide.
Yeah, but Redi-whip doesn’t come in Antique Gold for Huffers.
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