Scan barcode
A review by branch_c
Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind by Robert Kurzban
4.0
I realize there are various well-respected evolutionary biologists and other smart people who have serious criticisms of evolutionary psychology, but I have to say that I find it very convincing, and Kurzban's explanation of it is one of the best I've read.
Even if his description of our minds' modules turns out not to be precisely correct in all details, it seems clear that something like this must be the truth. It explains so much about why people act the way they do, and ties in so elegantly with other explanatory aspects of evolution, it just seems very unlikely that it's wrong.
It may be difficult or impossible to test EP hypotheses right now, but that may not always be the case. As our understanding of the brain and its functions increases, I expect EP to rest on firmer ground as its concepts are refined. For now, this book is an excellent place to learn more about current thinking on the subject.
Even if his description of our minds' modules turns out not to be precisely correct in all details, it seems clear that something like this must be the truth. It explains so much about why people act the way they do, and ties in so elegantly with other explanatory aspects of evolution, it just seems very unlikely that it's wrong.
It may be difficult or impossible to test EP hypotheses right now, but that may not always be the case. As our understanding of the brain and its functions increases, I expect EP to rest on firmer ground as its concepts are refined. For now, this book is an excellent place to learn more about current thinking on the subject.