Re: Absence of Canines in Apiths

"Jim McGinn" <jimmcginn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3b1kf.29231$tV6.14278@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

> > > There's another problem for Paul's hypothesis. His model
> > > not only doesn't have a reduction in intra-specific competition
> > > it has an increase.
> >
> > Not so. We have no idea about the level of
> > 'warfare' within the LCA. The best assumption
> > is that it was something similar to that in their
> > living descendents
>
> Well then despite the vagueness of your response (or because of it)
> my point still stands.

Where am I being vague?

You stated that my 'model' has an increase in
intra-specific competition. (I read that as being
shown in violent conflict.) But that is FALSE.

> And now look who's being argumentative.

Should I bother to correct your false
statements about my scenario?

> > (homo and modern chimps)
> > -- i.e. nearly constant and pretty savage.
>
> Not in my model.

Congratulations. Your model is more politically
correct. That makes it much better, and much
more likely to be true.

> In my model the communalism brings about long periods of
> relative peace at most locations, just like present day human society.

Been to Somalia recently? Ever read any
history? Ever read Thomas Hobbes? Did
they have a working police force in Early-
Hominid-Land? Laws? Courts? Legitimate
Government? Democracy? Respect for Law
and Order?

> Sure
> there's constant conflict against inmigrating food competitors and
> occasionally, maybe every ten years, there is the threat of predatory
> siege/massacre. But for the most part they have periods of constant
> civility.

You are as bad (if not worse) than the Politically-
Correct Margaret-Meads of Standard PA. You
seem to believe in the fantasy land of a Golden
Age before nasty Capitalism ruined it all.

I suppose I should have realised that. Your near-
complete lack of any sense of evolutionary
principles could only mean that you live in a
dream world.

> > The warred with each other, 'cos it was in their
> > nature -- as it seems to be with modern chimps
> > and modern homo, and in many other species.
> > Those good at it had more offspring. Those
> > who were bad at it, died.
>
> Pure nonsense. Chimps aren't any more likely to be embattled
> than any other species. It's pure nonsense to suggest they'd
> just begin warring with each other.

And you STILL haven't read any of Jane Goodall's
work!

> > > Why canines would not also be useful in addition to pointy
> > > sticks is never explained.
> >
> > I have often explained it -- although anyone with
> > the beginnings of an understanding of evolution
> > would not need an explanation. Large canines
> > COST. Any expensive feature will rapidly
> > disappear when selection in its favour ceases to
> > to be strong. Teeth of any size are expensive.
> > Look at the reduction in the size in human teeth
> > over the last 25 Kyr. Huge canines are hugely
> > expensive.
>
> It's just a tooth! Where're you getting this BS.

God help us! Teeth are enormously important
-- as everyone who has ever studied evolution
knows. They are the point where the organism
interacts most crucially with its environment:
how it gets its food -- and in the case of chimps
and many mammals: how it protects itself, and
competes with its conspecifics so that it can
reproduce.

Further, you are clearly have no sense whatever
of the size of male chimp canines.

When a male chimp loses ONE canine, that's
effectively the end of its life. It can no longer
defend itself -- nor reproduce, and it will have
much difficulty feeding.

> > I don't expect you to understand this point
> > (or if you do, you won't remember it) since it's
> > basic to any evolutionary thinking.

And, of course, you do not get it.


Paul.



.

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