"In the ancestor species to humans, the australopithecines, the relative sizes of males and females was comparable to that of gorillas, who have a polygamous harem setup.
It's interesting that in the human race, we get polygamy reappearing…"
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Simon Paynton
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Simon Paynton's Groups
Simon Paynton's Discussions
Question for Evolution and Natural Selection brainiacs
Started this discussion. Last reply by Gregg RThomas May 29, 2016. 86 Replies 1 Like
How valid is this model? The situation I'm trying to describe is the way in which the biological drives to thrive, survive and reproduce have become so incredibly strong and universal within the…Continue
Christian prison chaplain 'forced to resign' for condemning homosexuality
Started this discussion. Last reply by Simon Paynton Nov 10, 2015. 15 Replies 1 Like
What do you think about this? …Continue
How do you think clearly?
Started this discussion. Last reply by matt.clerke Nov 3, 2015. 40 Replies 0 Likes
It seems to me that everyone here is good at thinking. I believe that thinking clearly is an essential life skill. Truth is an essential component of morality. Morality relates to the reality of…Continue
What does it mean to have integrity?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Simon Paynton Sep 21, 2015. 25 Replies 2 Likes
I'm putting together a little article about integrity. Have a think about it. What does integrity mean to you, and what does it mean not to have integrity? This is as far as I've got. I think it's…Continue
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Latest Activity
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday SchoolSimon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"I think the issue of psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists is an interesting one. I know the terminology varies, but (from my experience and reading) psychopaths and narcissists are born that way (it's genetic), and sociopaths…"
Simon Paynton replied to Belle Rose's discussion 'I'm not an atheist anymore...'"What swayed you, Belle? "
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"It's really about the evolution of the human family set-up, rather than alpha males specifically, but that's where I got that information from.
There's another book which I consider to be complementary to it: "Mothers…"
Simon Paynton replied to Unseen's discussion 'Pattern recognition post revived'"lol!! But what if you're surrounded by improbable coincidences in your favour, as Belle is reporting? Is this a pattern, or not? It's difficult to say. "
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"This shows how docile human males are as a whole, compared with other species. Bonobos have a matriarchal setup. So it is possible that the raw genetic material for the human line had a lot of flexibility built in.
It seems that…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School""Most mammals are driven to cooperate and they live in diverse local conditions, so, from what you've given here, animals have culture."
- in most cases, the way that mamamls cooperate is as a loose uncoordinated rabble. …"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"There's a classic book on this subject: “Primeval Kinship – how pair-bonding gave birth to human society” by Bernard Chapais.
This talks about the crucial point in the evolution of the first humans, when we went…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School""does world view come from the inate side, the cultural side...or both."
- culture is basically a combination of the need to cooperate, with all the other local conditions that exist. So it's about morality plus all the…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"It's true that many social animals are able to cooperate. But the difference between them and humans is one of degree, of how sophisticated and closely coordinated the activities are. It seems that dolphins and killer whales show…"
Simon Paynton replied to Unseen's discussion 'Pattern recognition post revived'"I think you're right, since a definition of a pattern can be a "recognisable structure".
There are patterns in nature we don't recognise. But if we identified them, then we would recognise them. "
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School""some consistency which is informed by a shaping and growing world view."
- according to my sketchy understanding, I think this would be "a sense of right and wrong" or true morality. This is made up of 1) feeling a…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"Human morality is based in cooperation, combined with the capacity for empathic concern and helping which is present within all birds and mammals, since they care for their young.
I think that logically, this need for cooperation must have…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"I agree, I think you're right.
I think there's one extra thing that Christianity brings to the table: the "maximising ethic". All of us are called to be "good", but Christians (and, I presume,…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"As far as I can see, the main strand of logic within religion is the logic of cooperation and mutual thriving, and another is that of personal transformation.
It seems that the Enlightenment grew from a long tradition of attempting to find…"
Simon Paynton replied to Reg The Fronkey Farmer's discussion 'Sunday School May 28th 2017' in the group Sunday School"The view of Islamic blasphemy laws paints a depressing picture. Once people think God is on their side, there's no reasoning with them. "
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Fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Posted on March 18, 2014 at 7:56am 0 Comments 0 Likes
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
― Genesis 2:17
If we interpret this sentence in a certain way, it tells us almost everything we need to know about personal morality.
We normally talk about the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Fruit = consequences.
Good and Evil can be seen as Good and Bad ― Liking and…
Continue Mathematics of altruism
Posted on July 27, 2012 at 12:56pm 0 Comments 1 Like
http://plus.maths.org/content/does-it-pay-be-nice-maths-altruism-part-i
Mathematical evidence that cooperation evolves naturally as a successful strategy.
This is one of the most interesting things I've read for a long time. Don't worry, it's not too mathematical. I recommend printing it out if you want to read it.
I believe we need to know why these things…
ContinueComment Wall (23 comments)
- At 10:43am on October 8, 2014,
Erock68la said… Thanks for the friend request.
- At 5:01pm on March 27, 2014,
Justin said… ok thanks for letting me know man
- At 11:17pm on March 25, 2014, Justin said…
Thanks for accepting my friend request. Anyways, I was wondering, how did put a music playlist on your profile?
- At 2:04pm on October 4, 2013,
Keenan Fry said… Thanks for the invite, happy to be on Think Atheist!
- At 6:29pm on July 6, 2013,
ɐuɐz ǝllǝıuɐp said… Thanks, these are the ones I have left.
- At 11:52am on June 30, 2013, ɐuɐz ǝllǝıuɐp said…
Thanks ((^_^))
- At 7:51am on June 30, 2013, ɐuɐz ǝllǝıuɐp said…
Thanks for the video , I share you some of my work
- At 7:47am on June 30, 2013, ɐuɐz ǝllǝıuɐp said…
interesting, thank you
- At 12:10pm on November 28, 2012,
Anne Guevarra said… Thank you! :)
- At 8:34am on November 28, 2012,
Maya Komrik said… I meant, HE studies your stuff
Simon Paynton's Videos
Forum
Belief
Started by Chris Russell in Small Talk Jun 20. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Moving to atheistzone.com soon
Started by Rebel in Announcements. Last reply by Rebel Jun 2. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Agnosticism
Started by Chris Russell in Small Talk. Last reply by Chris Russell Jun 6. 11 Replies 0 Likes
I'm not an atheist anymore...
Started by Belle Rose in Small Talk. Last reply by Pope Beanie Jun 12. 19 Replies 2 Likes
Alex J O'Connor
Started by JadeBlackOlive in Small Talk. Last reply by Davis Goodman Jun 1. 3 Replies 1 Like
Blog Posts
Equuleus - the little horse
Posted by Brad Snowder on July 9, 2017 at 1:08am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Horrified
Posted by Mary smith on July 2, 2017 at 12:35pm 0 Comments 2 Likes
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