Consider the hash that some people make of evolutionary psychology in trying to be cynical—assuming that humans have a subconscious motive to promote their inclusive genetic fitness.
What is “cynical” about that? It is a central organising principle in biology that organisms tend to act in such a way to promote their own inclusive genetic fitness. There are a few caveats—but why would viewing people like that be “cynical”? I do not see anything wrong with promoting your own genetic fitness—rather it seems like a perfectly natural thing to do to me.
Looking at the population explosion, I would say that the world appears to be full of people who are acting in a manner that is highly effective at promoting their own genetic fitness. They are doing something wrong? What makes you think that?
The cynicism lies in thinking that this is a motive (it’s not, not in any ordinary sense; do I have a “motive” of being drawn toward the center of the Earth?), and also in thinking that this somehow devalues actual human capacities for rationality, love, altruism, etc.
What is “cynical” about that? It is a central organising principle in biology that organisms tend to act in such a way to promote their own inclusive genetic fitness. There are a few caveats—but why would viewing people like that be “cynical”? I do not see anything wrong with promoting your own genetic fitness—rather it seems like a perfectly natural thing to do to me.
Looking at the population explosion, I would say that the world appears to be full of people who are acting in a manner that is highly effective at promoting their own genetic fitness. They are doing something wrong? What makes you think that?
The cynicism lies in thinking that this is a motive (it’s not, not in any ordinary sense; do I have a “motive” of being drawn toward the center of the Earth?), and also in thinking that this somehow devalues actual human capacities for rationality, love, altruism, etc.