Then neuroendocrinology is wrong, however good the read. It simply would not be possible for us to have evolutionary adaptions to the cultural environment in that short a space of time, evolution does not go that fast. It 'IS' possible for uus to have evolutionary adaptions which favour us creating a cultural environment and even wanting to live in it, ( though there may be small pre-adaptions,) but saying that we are adapted to the cultural environment is putting the cart before the horse.

@Fernapple [pnas.org]

[apa.org]

[phys.org]

@FearlessFly Yes I have read it, but it is and while I do not disagree with it , it is not relevant to my point. In the time available culture will have an effect on some genes, but not total adaption. In part because cultural evolution moves much faster than biological evolution, especially since the agricultural revolution, when its effects have grown exponentialy. Biological evolution will certainly be affected by culture, but it can never keep up the pace to the point where we can be said to be in any way adapted to the cultural environment.

@Fernapple ohferpetessake, you are ignoring the very real ways in which Many creatures pass on their knowledge by example...chimps using sticks to fish out insects from logs, bears teaching their babies to fish, aaannnnddd etc etc etc

@AnneWimsey No you have missed the point, I am not saying that culture does not exist or work for many animals, only that its ill effects can not be countered by biological evolution as fast as it advances.

@Fernapple no, you miss my point, that adaptation can be taught, genetic changes are not always needed, in fact they Do take "forever (sometimes) but it isn't really a worry.

@AnneWimsey Yes I know culture can be changed, and that is good, but you miss my point that much of the need for change comes from the fact that it often goes in directions to which we are ill adapted by nature.

Perhaps it is best to give a practical example.

Culture has enabled us to farm, and thereby to produce and market vast amounts of cheap carbs. especially sugar. But our biological adaptions were made on the plains of Africa where needed calories were hard to find, and sugar was rare to the point of unknown. You could only get it probably, if you raided, at great risk, a rare bee's nest. Thus nature has given us a very strong taste for sweet foods, high in calories, because they were hard to get where we evolved, so that today, with vast amounts of sugar freely available and promoted to us by a well funded advertising industry, we gorge ourselves on it. That destroys our teeth, and gives us all the ills of obesity and diabetes, millions die early miserable deaths because of it.

In time we may possibly evolve to loose our taste for sweet foods, but that will take, at least, thousands of years, because biological evolution is much slower than cultural changes. Likewise on the plains of Africa it payed to be credulous, because if the adults told you not to go near the lake at night, because the hyenas would get you, it payed you to listen and believe, or you could end up dead. But that same credulity in today much safer age, often gets young people killed, when the old people tell them that you have to carry a bomb, or avoid te vaccine, because if you don't, the daemons in hell will get you.

It maybe that in time we will evolve, to become more naturally sceptical and cynical, but that again will take thousands of years.

@Fernapple I have issues with your "sugar" example, I have for 6 months been on a medically-supervised Keto diet, lost weight, reversed my Type II Diabetes & improved my blood pressure, cholesterol, etc (gotten off several meds ), and look forward to ditching them all....and the best part is, no willpower needed, i am never hungry,, in fact struggle for the firsf time in my life to remember to eat enough! It appears to me & many any others on this "diet" that sugar cravings Drive sugar cravings.

@AnneWimsey Well done.

Agreed, I did overstate my case for effect, and I am not so foolish as to assume that culture is not a source of truth, sometimes, as I am sure you realize.

Yet I do think, that by far the greater bulk of culture is basically misleading, and there there is nothing built into the basic nature of culture which in any way favours truth over lies. It promotes both equally happily, and since it is possible to invent a thousand errors for every truth, it is natural that errors should come to be the dominant form. Save where people make huge efforts such as science and philosophy to try to eliminate them, and indeed it would not have been needful to invent those methods of working at all, had not unregulated culture so obviously failed.

@Fernapple I agree completely with this. (Therefore it is correct! )
See how rational I am?

@MikeInBatonRouge Rational and bright, Back pats all round.

My over generalizing was quite deliberate, for humorous effect.

@Fernapple I found the following more humorous and stole it.

Another good reason to have a concealed weapons permit. This is a story of self-control and marksmanship by a brave, cool-headed woman with a small pistol against a fierce predator. Here's her story in her own words:

"While walking along the edge of a pond just outside my house near Green Pond discussing a property settlement with my soon-to-be ex-husband, and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft alligator which suddenly emerged from the murky water. It began charging us with its large jaws wide open. She must have been protecting her nest because she was extremely aggressive.

"If I had not had my little Ruger 22 caliber pistol with me, I would not be here today! Just one shot to my estranged husband's knee cap was all it took. The gator got him easily, and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace. The amount I saved in lawyer's fees was really incredible and his life insurance was also a big bonus!”

@yvilletom I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you.

@Paul4747 Are you mobile? In four months I'll be 91. LO effing L.

@yvilletom Like Babe Ruth, who wouldn't take batting practice, I believe the body is like a bar of soap; repeated use wears it down. I'm saving up my sprinting for when I really need it.