Re: memetics-digest V1 #1525
From: Agner Fog (agner@agner.org)
Date: Tue 22 Feb 2005 - 08:14:42 GMT
Next message: Alan Patrick: "Re: Greeks (was Group selection)"
Peter Baker wrote:<br>
>May I suggest you read 'Biological
Exhuberance' by Bruce Bagemihl, <br>
>Profile Books 1999, in
which he documents, from the scientific <br>
>literature,
homosexual behaviour as a natural part of the range of
<br>
>sexual expression in over 450 species, including most
mammals.<br>
<br>
This book is a useful collection of
documentation, but its theory is completely out of line with evolutionary
thought. Bagemihl's claim is that animals do homosex just for fun or for
some other 'esoteric' reason. But he ignores the fact that an animal's
sense of what is fun or pleasurable is evolved. If animals have a taste
for some subjectively pleasurable activity which is a nonadaptive waste of
time and energy then they will most likely be outcompeted by others that
find adaptive activities more pleasurable. Bagemihl can't see any adaptive
function in homosexual behavior, but other ethologists can. Homosexual
behavior in bonobos, dolphins, giraffes, etc. have functions such as
forming alliances, solving conflicts, etc.
<br>
Homosexual
behavior can of course be a side effect of heterosexual behavior when an
opposite-sex partner is not available. But the animal should always prefer
an opposite sex partner unless the homosexual behavior has some adaptive
function other than breeding. This function may be to practice sexual
skills without being pregnant, or it may be to form alliances, or
whatever.
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