Evolution of Objectivity

The following was clipped from the Paleopsych Listserve and is posted here with John's blessings.

I recall reading G.G. Simpson's book, MEANING OF EVOLUTION (I believe) when in high school. I also remember marking a passage, way back then, when he said something about the evolution of objecivity. I did not buy it. Wish I still had the book.

Evolution works with what works. Period. Self-deception (the thing the rest of you suffer from, poor souls) can be part of the package, and an important part. We can integrate into groups if and when we share myths. We can generate a sense of continuity in our lives. Hell, we can even become noble, or important, or wise!

Humans are myth makers. We attack alternative myths, those of our enemies or those of the poor unenlightened ones. We set up web sites to reinforce and share our biases.

In "objective" science we test against reality. But this reality is also filtered by our very myths, blinders, and so on. That is why true science (whatever that means) is difficult, and often illusory.

I don't believe for a moment that we "photograph" either ourselves, or the world around us, as if this "photograph" (as in snapshot)neccessarily tells us the way things "really are". If the little pictures fit our pre-existing concepts and biases, we buy them. Otherwise we blame the photoshop for doing a bad job. Its all part of being human.

Of course (ha!) this does not apply to the paleopsych. list, or any other list that we CHOOSE to join. Shared subjectivity wins most votes as a substitute for objectivity, whatever that means.

My misguided insights, as your (generic) insights are, of course, perfect. If the other folks would just catch on!

I am not trying to be silly in this. Human myth, as human art and music, allow us to reach down into ourselves in ways that are otherwise obscure. Objective (sic) science helps us reach down. We seem to want, deeply want, confirmation. That is our shared myth.

j.

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