Here's a copy that isn't blocked by a paywall:
http://stirling-westrup-tt.blogspot.com ... early.htmlI don't buy those theories too much, with the exception of the advantage of the systemising gene -- which can be connected to autism. (I believe autism is caused more by encephalitis and other things that can go wrong at a young age, i.e. it is a developmental disorder, but there is a latent genetic predisposition.)
An alternative theory is not that people used to be more tolerant (I don't believe they were in all likelihood), and that certain types of mental illness were advantageous, but that man's growing brain and abilities lead groups to be able to acquire much greater surpluses and survive even with mental illness in their midst. i.e. mental illness has poorer survival prospects, but the increased teamwork of communities, the ability to control nature and the environment to a greater and greater extent, fend off predators, etc etc meant that the usual Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' arguments were less important, and that weaker genes could survive. Further, as man's consciousness and intelligence is far more evolved than most or all other animals, then how does that new form of consciousness manifest itself? The heightened levels of cognition, self-awareness, inventiveness, problem-solving etc may also have produced much more elaborated instances of mental illness than you would see in animals. And almost as a number of silicon chips off a silicon wafer have defects under testing, the new capabilities may have evolved so quickly that there is also a high defect rate.
But I believe, just looking at ppl today, that they have always been grossly intolerant of difference, including towards other races. I believe the Neanderthals were wiped out by warfare from
Homo sapiens also, not that they were 'out-competed'. I think
Homo sapiens' inbuilt xenophobia and aggressiveness and warlike nature means they would attack and kill any other hominid tribe they encountered, unless that tribe were stronger and more able to defend itself. We also see this pattern with the emergence of kingdoms and empires, from the very earliest period of recorded history.
Last edited by
SydneyPSIder on 27 Mar 2014, 15:24, edited 1 time in total.