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- Title
Soma and culture interweave: a comment on sociobiology.
- Authors
Richards, Guy
- Abstract
The article comments on sociobiology. Sociobiology has implications it may encourage conservation, rather than conservatism, since one problem status quo is changed quickly in the wrong direction, worsening the physical and social environment with pollution and overconcentration of power. It may seem conservative to some because, like any powerful instrument it can be used in many ways, for instance against overly optimistic theories of the left, but it can be used similarly against the right. A claim that some trait has been natural, genetic or adaptive, does not mean that it is good or adaptive now, but it suggests that a change in that trait may entail a cost to be set beside the benefit. Disease, birth injuries, obstructed labor, maternal deaths, and infant deaths are natural and sometimes genetic, but that does not deter us from trying to improve on nature. Social scientists have drawn the line between biology and culture. There is a zone in which body and mind interweave where sociobiology is especially useful. The article describes three behavioral traits in order of increasing learning component. First is erect posture and walking. Manipulation of sticks and stick-shaped tools. Speech and the hearing and understanding of speech sound frequencies. In each case our somatic development makes learning these skills almost certain. Culture depends on them heavily, but they antedate culture in both our species and our individual development.
- Subjects
SOCIOBIOLOGY; CONSERVATISM; SOCIAL scientists; HUMAN behavior; LIFESTYLES; SOCIOLOGY
- Publication
Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 1986, Vol 23, Issue 4, p588
- ISSN
0008-4948
- Publication type
Editorial
- DOI
10.1111/j.1755-618x.1986.tb00825.x