Beyond Extended Phenotype: Evolution of Extended Identity in Order to Reconcile Study of Humanity with Biological Evolution

19 Pages Posted: 12 Mar 2014 Last revised: 29 Jun 2016

Date Written: March 10, 2014

Abstract

The question: “How much of biological evolution based theories, as they are understood presently, apply to human behaviour?” is highly controversial and perhaps highly politicized as well. The inference that human beings are evolutionarily programmed to have urges toward aggression, rape, murder, adultery, genocide and so on is a politically rejected idea within the social sciences. To be politically correct those who use evolutionary framework do claim that people can learn or have capacity for self restraint. However it is not clearly understood, how such restraint can possibly evolve within the evolutionary framework. This paper argues that the missing link that explains such behaviour is the concept of extended identity. How extended identity can evolve, following the framework of selfish gene, is explained by integrating theories related to selfish gene, institutional analysis, information economics and social capital literature. Archaeological evidence from evolutionary cognition is also used to show that such evolution could happen 4 million years ago (MYA).

Keywords: extended identity, extended phenotype, selfish gene, asymmetric information, evolution, trust, social capital, imperfect information

Suggested Citation

Mezgebo, Taddese, Beyond Extended Phenotype: Evolution of Extended Identity in Order to Reconcile Study of Humanity with Biological Evolution (March 10, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2406890 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2406890

Taddese Mezgebo (Contact Author)

Mekelle University ( email )

Mekelle, 231
Ethiopia
251911480483 (Phone)
251344407610 (Fax)

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