Category: Human Behavior and Cognitive Science

MS. “L”

I have three objections to the options above: 1)I reject the premise inherent in these choices. They are based on the assumption that human nature is all about self-interest. Not only is that a harsh view of human nature, it is also inaccurate. An important characteristic of human nature is gregariousness., and depriving people of the capacity is to associate with others is considered harsh punishment, even torture. That is why the use of isolation cells in prison in the Western world is regulated. So I might cooperate with others because I like associating with others–it’s fun!

Curt Doolittle

1) only a woman would say such a thing since it demonstrates the cognitive bias of ‘blindness to the distribution”.

2) human nature *is* demonstrably entirely driven by self interest and we can find no instances where it is not – not only that, we can’t find it anywhere else in nature either. All cooperation is for self beneficial ends. Even kin selection still is for beneficial ends of one’s genes.

3) the significant difference between humans and other creatures is that we can imitate one another (model one another), such that we can comprehend intention, and therefore cooperate on intentions. That fact aside, we evolved moral instincts to both encourage cooperation but punish parasitism (free riding). All herd and pack animals are gregarious to the herd/pack. Its just good kin selection.

4) women must bear the high cost of offspring, are weaker and more vulnerable more often and they and their offspring are even vulnerable to other women so they purchase lots of insurance and they experience this insurance purchase as gregariousness. They do so to the point where when given access to political resources (commons) they attempt to give them away (see the dominance of women in government jobs, and in charity work, and the absence of women in the most competitive of professions). This is all nothing but genetic self interest. If creatures were not self-interested they would be exterminated by evolutionary pressures.

5) Women lie to themselves largely because they have less agency in the control of their emotions. Men lie to others. But not to themselves. It’s too dangerous for them.

MS. “L”

2) The identities attached to the various options are stereotypes, especially the father stereotype.

Curt Doolittle

Stereotypes are the MOST ACCURATE measurement in the social sciences. So much so that we can pretty much claim that they are the ONLY accurate measurement in the social sciences.

Female cognitive bias against stereotypes is driven by the need to believe her children are ‘good’ and ‘worth her investment’ regardless of their worth (or worthlessness). It is also because women who ‘stand out’ are destroyed by other women in the pack. Women work together to ensure the even distribution of resources. They hen-peck competitors to ensure they do not obtain more resources.

MS. “L”

3) Option #4, the Libertine option, is not even an option. If Libertine is left alone, L. will not be able to participate in the commercial market. If left alone (let’s say with just the immediate family), L. will not have the education, health or infrastructure necessary to participate in the commercial market. For instance, how many people in Liberia participate in the commercial market versus how many more would participate if education, infrastructure and health care (remember Ebola?) were freely available.

Curt Doolittle

This is not true. There are always marginal people on the edge of society. Yet again you’ve demonstrated distribution-blindness.

Only women do this. Men never do. Unless feminized by a single mother.