| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
None of these changes has been brought about by reproductive fitness. There has been no “survival of the fittest.” All of them have involved both life forms and ecosystems. So, it is necessary to begin to appreciate that aggression is much less important in the evolution of a species than had been thought.
Weiss and Buchanan described a second insight pertinent to a form of cooperation that is omnipresent throughout life processes. To put an anthropomorphic spin on this, sperm and ovum cooperate to become a zygote, with specific chromosomes from each lining up together in a cooperative manner. The zygote divides into cells that are similar and get along well together (as do the proteins that are neatly paired and folded within them). Eventually, certain cells form into various tissues, again all working together to carry out a particular function. And tissues themselves operate together to make the organism function smoothly. Indeed, tissue may be even more adaptable; should someone lose his or her sight, the visual areas of the brain can cooperatively be recruited to enhance the hearing or touch of the individual so that he or she will have improved function in life. As shall be seen, animals of all stripes cooperate in mating, often in other activities, and always in play. If the initial trillions of cells and many tissues do not cooperate fully during development, perhaps because of a chance mutation, the individual will likely die. Obviously, cooperation, not aggression, is the essential mainstay of life.
Contents of This Book
Following this introduction, chapter 2 summarizes evidence about the fossil remains of human ancestors from which scientists have extrapolated how they think these individuals behaved. Popular writers and journalists have added another layer of interpretation that informs—and sometimes misinforms—public understanding of this evolving science. Many men and some women have written books about early human ancestors being aggressive hunters, which are discussed (and found wanting) in chapter 3.