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Evolution Applies To Behavior, But Tests Are Hard
- Human behavior must have evolved like other traits, but the empirical challenge lies in the details of testing specific adaptive claims.
- Massimo Pigliucci emphasizes that some behavioral traits clearly evolved, yet proving particular adaptive stories is difficult.
Unique Human Traits Give You N=1
- Evolutionary explanations for uniquely human, universal traits are especially hard because the effective sample size is one.
- Massimo Pigliucci notes lack of cross-population or cross-species variation makes testing such claims difficult.
Ancestral Environment Is Largely Unknown
- We know little about ancestral social environments and can't reliably measure ancient selective pressures.
- Pigliucci warns that relying on simplistic Pleistocene scenarios often rests on shaky factual foundations.