BIOSOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN MODERNISATION An introduction to social biology Prof. em. Dr. Robert Cliquet Biosocial interactions in modernization Biosocial interactions in modernization Ø Various approaches or domains of interest possible, e.g. Ø intra-individual ontogenetic development, or Ø inter-individual variation Ø Individual Ø Family Ø Population Ø intergenerational Ø Various cultural stages can be considered: Ø Environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA) Ø Agrarian era Ø Modernization Biosocial interactions in modernization Sources of biological variation Evolutionary background Specific problems in modernization Sources of biological variation Ø Individual variation Ø Age variation Ø Sexual variation Ø Family variation Ø Reproductive variation Ø Social variation Ø Racial variation Ø Intergenerational variation Biosocial interactions in modernization Ø 1. Introductory lectures Ø 1.1. Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Ø 1.2. Biosocial interactions in modern society Biosocial interactions in modernization 1. Introductory lecture 1.1. Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Hominization process: Bipedalism Brain growth Culture bio-cultural coevolution = ‘αύτοποίησις’ Groupism Australopithecus afarensis (3.7-2.9 million years) Cranial capacity in hominid evolution Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Explanation for encephalisation: Ecological Tool making adaptation Social life Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial co-evolution of the hominids Biosocial interactions in modernization • Introductory lectures 1.2. Biosocial interactions in modern society Social biology: the study of biosocial interactions Social biology Ilse Schwidetzky (1950) Grundzüge der Völkerbiologie. Stuttgart: Ferdinand Enke Publisher Teil II: Sozialbiologie Social biology Schwidetzky (1950): "...die Wechselbeziehungen zwischen der biologischen Beschaffenheit der Menschheit und den Sozialvorgängen". Social biology Early developments: ØBiological variation and social class Ø(Pseudo)-Social-Darwinism Sociobiology: The study of the (biological) evolution of social behaviour Sociobiology Edward O. Wilson (1975): Sociobiology, The New Synthesis. Cambridge Mass and London: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. "Sociobiology is defined as the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behaviour”. Sociobiology The second Darwinian revolution (second half of 20th century) Ø inclusive fitness (Hamilton, 1963; 1964) Ø kin selection (Maynard Smith, 1964) Ø reciprocal altruism (Trivers, 1971) Ø parental investment and sexual selection (Trivers, 1972) Ø evolutionary stabile strategy (Maynard Smith, 1973) Ø selfish gene theory (Williams,1966; Dawkins, 1976) Ø evolution of cooperation (Axelrod, 1981) Ø etc. W.D. Hamilton *1963: The Evolution of Altruistic Behavior. American Naturalist, 97: 354-356. *1964: The Genetical Evolution of Social Behaviour, I & II. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 7: 1‑52. Sociobiology * Implications for: – Nepotism – cheating behaviour – dominance – jealousy – cuckoldry and mate guarding – hidden ovulation – incest (avoidance and incest taboo) – paternal confidence – sex ratio – adoption – infanticide – child abuse – in-group/out-group relations – etc. The completion of the sociobiological paradigm Sociobiology (social relations) Behavioural Evolutionary ecology psychology (resources) (evolved human psychological mechanisms) The evolution of social behaviour Adaptive value of sociality = paradox Natural selection: ? individual group competition cooperation The evolution of social behaviour Hamilton (1964): Selection of altruism via kin = Kin selection rB > C r :degree of relatedness ; B: benefit for the recipient relative B : C :cost for the altruist Fitness Inclusive fitness The evolution of social behaviour Trivers (1971) ‘The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism’ = evolutionary model explaining the occurrence of altruistic behaviour between non-relatives evolutionary theory of co-operation The evolution of social behaviour P. Van den Berghe (1979): three major foundations of human social life Kin selection Reciprocity Social coercion The sociobiology controversy M.T. Ghiselin (1974) The Economy of Nature and the Evolution of Sex: ("Scratch an “altruist”, and watch a “hypocrite” bleed.”) Edward O. Wilson (1975): Sociobiology, The New Synthesis: "One of the functions of sociobiology, then, is to reformulate the foundations of the social sciences in a way that draws these subjects into the Modern Synthesis." The sociobiology controversy Wilson’s “New Synthesis” = provoked scientific, but mainly ideological controversy Ø Opponants: Ø Social scientists; Ø Marxists; Ø Feminists; Ø Religious believers. Ø Reproaches: Ø Deterministic; Ø Reductionistic; Ø Capitalist; Ø Sexist; Ø Racist; Ø Atheist. The sociobiology controversy Causes of the sociobiological controversy: Ø Chance events and actual circumstances Ø intensive publicity campaign of the publisher Ø the Harvard left‑radical collective "Science for the People" Ø Marxist population geneticist Richard Lewontin Ø feminist second wave Ø Fundamental causes: Ø considerable progress in different fields of biology Ø compartmentalisation of the scientific industry Ø Standard Social Science Model’ (SSSM) Ø anthropocentric view of human nature Ø salient teleology in the social sciences Ø sociobiological drives in scientific business Significance of a biosocial approach Ø Importance for the Ø socio-cultural sciences; Ø behavioural sciences; Ø life sciences. Ø Bio-social duality of human nature requires Ø knowledge of the biology and the evolution of the human species Ø interrelations of human-biological and socio-cultural processes. Facts and values in biosocial interactions Ø Social biology/sociobiology: value-loaden? Ø Specificity of sociobiological approach: Ø human value systems: cause and result of hominization process; Ø human value and norm systems: subject to the evolutionary processes, i.p. selection. The evolutionary origin and function of ethics Ø Origin: Ø shift from a largely genetically programmed control towards a conscious control of behaviour during hominization; Ø long maturation of the human Ø Function: Ø value and norm systems = exo-somatic survival organ systems Sociobiological functions of ethics Ø Steering the ontogenetic development of the individual; Ø Regulate inter-individual competition; Ø Regulate the relations between groups of individuals, Ø Regulate intergenerational transmission ØShort-term: maximization of inclusive fitness ØLong-term: furthering hominization process? Sociobiological functions of ethics *Crucial questions: – Quality-quantity: *Ontogenetic *phylogenetic – Equality-inequality: *Between individuals *Between societies *Between generations The ‘Sein/Sollen’ controversy Ø Facts values = naturalistic fallacy? Ø ‘Sein’ (static) ‘Sollen’ (dynamic)? Ø Life ≠ static, but generic process: Ø ontogenetically; Ø phylogenetically; Ø Human life = only partially programmed; = requires a (human made) design The social biology of modernization Ø Human genome adapted to environment of evolutionary adaptedness’ (EEA) Ø Human genome inadapted to the novel environment of Ø Modern science Ø Technology Ø Humanistic values The major biosocial challenges in modern culture Biosocial interactions in modernization Ø The evolutionary background of bio-social interactions in the human species Ø Individual variation and individualism Ø Age variation and ageism Ø Sexual variation and sexism Ø Family variation and familism Ø Reproductive variation and natalism Ø Class variation and classism Ø Racial variation and racism Ø Intergenerational variation and eugenism Ø Ethical and policy implications