The Theory of Options: A New Theory of the Evolution of Human Behavior
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
Here is an innovative theory of the evolution of human behavior. The theory allows that evolution can account for many behaviors, but points out there are still no viable methods of counseling or therapy based on how humans evolved. And while genes do mold behavior, few human genes are different from those of chimps.
The theory also allows that DNA is "selfish", but over the history of life DNA selected in ways that highly conserved genes could express a variety of organisms for little change to themselves. In a similar way, over millions of years neurology evolved towards increasing generalization, where learning neurology could adapt many needs for the same genetic design. These effects, concatenating at an advanced stage of life, restrict the available fitness pathways along which any species can evolve. Human ancestors evolved along a pathway in which fit adaptations were those that maximized the options of behavior, against a cost to evolve. This can account for many complexities of human behavior, such as why humans have morals, or experience religious awe. There is even a theory of psychology, derived from evolution, but viable in its own terms.
This is not just criticism of current evolutionary explanations of human behavior, but a fresh approach to enduring problems, with original mechanisms and insights.
From the Author
My book has enjoyed mostly favorable reviews, including from top a 500 reviewer. However, there was some initial criticism that the book was poorly edited, the theory was hard to follow, and that I did not explain morals or philosophy. The book has been re-edited to correct this impression, and a newer printing is now available.
Beyond some stylistic or editing errors though, the criticism might reflect the real difficulties of the topic. For evolution to explain human behavior it takes more than a rework of existing ideas. Many concepts have to fit together; evolution, genetics, logic, behavior, ethics, and psychology. The re-edited version better explains how each piece of the puzzle can be worked around the proposed model. But this is still only an outline.
As for neglecting moral or analytical theory, one problem has been that evolutionists often overlook that much of human thinking is 'context free' in a fitness sense, so it is difficult to explain why it evolved. Surprisingly then, my model to explain this was criticized the least by evolutionists, even though it added complications into evolutionary theory itself. But having overcome, to me, this one difficulty, I tended to downplay broader issues of morals, philosophy, and analysis. I have now re-written these essays, I hope to more clearly explain my point.
Most readers gained a great deal from this book. But if any person feels that it was not the book that he or she was expecting, I would be glad to hear from you via the publisher.
The Theory of Options: A New Theory of the Evolution of Human Behavior,Sean Gould,Universal Publishers,1581127006,General,Life Sciences - Evolution - Human,Psychology,Human behavior,Science,Evolution,Human evolution,Behavior evolution
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