Why are humans naked?

Question

I mean, why? Human beings make no sense!! Some other mammels are naked (ie, without fur) but they seem to live underground (naked mole rats) or in the water (dolphins, whales, etc.) Why do we have almost bare skin (except in two places) that burns so easily and is so fragile? Some people believe we also once lived in the water. Does anyone have any ideas?

It seems strange that we lost our hair BECAUSE of clothing. How long have we been wearing clothes? It cant be that long, in evolutionary terms. Surely we couldnt evolve something so drastic in that space of time? Or could we?

Thanks for your great answer SW! There does seem to be a drive towards hairlessness even in modern society, with fashion sometimes demanding we shave even what we have – women especially but not solely. Perhaps the whole thing is therefore rooted in some psychological force rather than a physical one directly from the environment. But that just makes me wonder what even more . . .

Of course, we are so bogged down in our clothes culture these days that it is hard to extrapolate what is real and what is ‘artificial’ and just induced by society’s hang-ups.

Answer 1

Excellent question. Unfortunately I don't know the answer. Try literature by Matt Ridley and Steven Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins. I'm sure they have good hypotheses.

Most adaptations are because of sexual selection. That means females choose mates they are most convinced will give their children the best chance of growing to breeding age.

We are different from our cousins the chimps and gorilla because in them, the women are sexually receptive on occasion, and the genital areas become red and swollen. They don't usually have sex when not receptive. We are different, obviously. We're receptive every month for a day or two. Bonobos practice sex a lot, whether receptive or not. They have a vastly different social structure and chimps or gorillas, more like us in fact.

What's this got to do with hairlessness in humans? Women chose men with less hair as partners more frequently than those with lots of hair. Why, I don't know.

There is a suggestion that humans are neonates, ie infantile brains and bodies even in the grown adult. But even infant bonobos have hair so again, not sure.

Those god answers are very funny. Do they believe god looks like a human? Seriously?

Answer 2

Carl you say we are created in god's image if thats so then why do we wear clothing? we are merely covering up our entire image does that make sense? so take that crap elsewhere and actually try and ask the guys question.Well its merely because we are stupid and weak like people say its way the world as evolutinized into the big clothing industry everyone trys to invent things so they can benefit and get a good buisness going clearly clothing is a big one.Animals are cleary a entirly diffrent species and are more devloped more acustomined to the conditions hence the reason they have been on earth longer and can survive outside when its cold and very hot its all about evolution i guess.

Answer 3

Hmmm.. Einstein once said, science without religion is lame. I like to view it as a good evidence that Human is the descendant of prophet Adam..not from monkeys or apes. That's the Muslim's belief.. and the Christian's too..if I'm not mistaken. I myself is a scientist, training in microbiology...i always believe that scientific theories is not actually the truth, but the closest thing to the truth that human can comprehend at any particular moment. From this question, you might have already find a flaw yourself to the theory of evolution when it comes to humans :-).

Answer 4

I watched a show on the Discovery channel about human evolution. I'll try to explain. Now, humans still have hair and so do naked mole rats, but the reason why humans have less hair is because of natural selection. With less hair there would be a less likely chance of getting parasites that only thrive in hair. With less parasites you would be healthier and fitter, increasing chances of survival. Also, the first "hairless" humans appeared in Africa. Africa isn't that cold, believe me. Getting rid of that heat-trapping hair made it easier to cope with the heat, increasing the chance of survival. The issue of sunburning was to have a lot of in melanin (dark coloring in skin) as a natural sunblock.

Answer 5

Human beings have been wearing clothes from 100,000 to 500,000 years ago. People started to use fire one million years ago. A fire should keep a person warm enough to eliminate the need for fur. As for the exaggerated pronounced nature of the human body over animals bodies it could be to mates specifically seeking those exaggerated sexual qualities.

Answer 6

If we cover our bodies too a lot then we are shaming what God has created. Modesty ought to correctly be a strong element, yet shame isn't. Your baby is human and has the same variety of aspects as adults. there is no longer something incorrect with information. Now if the picture became sexual, then i'd not allow a second grade baby look at it, yet no matter if that is in ordinary words nudity then I see no longer something incorrect with letting him understand what to assume including his personal body. i became once having a verbal change with my son about sex and nature and he noted his penis as his "undesirable aspects" to which I at present corrected. i chanced on out his aunt referred to as a penis a "undesirable section" because like such multiple human beings she became shamed into modesty extremely of being taught modesty. My son now knows that a penis isn't a foul part of him, yet a personal section extremely. i'm hoping this facilitates. strong success.

Answer 7

First, I think we used to be hairier(sp). Second, we live in shelters. Third, we have the ability to use logic, reason and that allowes us to decide to make and wear clothing.

Answer 8

At first I thought it was a dumb question until I thought about what you are asking. Good question. I have no ******* clue.

Answer 9

well, maybe then because ppl will be able to make money by making clothes and then selling them =)

Answer 10

we have wore cloting like sheep skin since cave men.....we developed fragile skin