if we evolved, where did loving each other like humans do, come about? Theres no evidence, animals love each other, like we humans do
2006-12-13 11:34:12 · 7 answers · asked by troynessbarclay 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
This is a very interesting question. The scientific way of describing love is "pair bond". Most mammals do not engage in pair bonding, but a few do, among them wolves. Other non-mammalian species that have pair bonds include many species of birds, and cichlid fish, among others. In every case, the pair bond is to form a partnership to ensure the greater survival of the young. Wolves mate for life, and you can insult them by saying they are not really in love, but I disagree. The theory on human love or pair bonding is this: As we descended from a chimp-like common ancestor, we came to be more and more carnivorous, and this requires the hunter, usually the male, to be gone from home for long periods. His genes were more likely to pass on to the next generation if he could be sure his kids were his own and not some casanova's or rapist's . This required his female to remain faithful to him, obviously, while he was away hunting. Furthermore, the female was more successful if she could attach herself to a successful male who could consistently bring home the bacon, and in exchange for this, again, she had to remain faithful. Falling in love solved all or most of these problems. Furthermore, the successful males that went off and hunted would band together and would have had an incentive to kill or banish those who would cheat on them while they were away, whether it was a male looking to cheat with his wife or a wife who was willing to cheat. In this way, the "lovers" succeeded better than the "fornicators". This has been likened to adopting a more wolf-like manner, due to adopting a more wolf-like diet. Of course, this is just a "theory", but it makes perfect sense to me.
You are obviously a very intelligent person to pose such an intelligent question. Try to open your mind a little and not let your religious prejudices cloud your otherwise excellent mind.
2006-12-13 12:59:51 · answer #1 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have never seen an elephant lose her offspring, or a Chimpanzee lose her baby, or any male fight for the right to procreate with the best female with the right "attractiveness".
Since it takes a long time to raise human young it is in our species best interest to have a male partner to stick around to help rear that child. This is where love comes from. It helps us to be and stay in a family unit, a community, and to give us a will to achieve.
It did not "magically" appear from any Deity.
P.S. Check out the link below, If you can drink milk you HAVE evolved from Paleolithic times when humans could not drink milk after weaning.
2006-12-13 11:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by knujefp 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes there is, just observe animals (humans included), rubbing noses, pairing up to care for a nest, picking lice off each other, etc.
I think its there so that he kids have a better chance of surviving, same reason we have 2 ears or eyes or arms, if ya lose one, you can still function ok without it. Better with two though. If parents hate and kill each other or are nonfunctional in other ways, the kids have less chance to survive to reproduce. If they love each other , make diner, get clothes, pay the bills, make sure the car runs, laugh sometimes, then the kids have a better chance.
2006-12-13 11:41:29 · answer #3 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Furthering of the genes...if you stay with your mate, there is a better chance that you can provide for your offspring. And if you care for your offspring, and love them, you will look after them better ensuring your genetic success.
Also in humans we have the added complexity of situations of social reciprocity coupled with a big brain. It pays to be nice, if others will be nice back.
Reciprocal altruism is also seen in a variety of other animals, such as vampire bats.
2006-12-13 12:25:11 · answer #4 · answered by kiddo 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Really? Have you ever see a mother cat searching for her kittens? The basis for "love" was to increase the survival of the mothers during pregnancy and the children after birth there by increasing the survival rate of the species.
2006-12-13 11:41:29 · answer #5 · answered by Daniel H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
emotion is a complex and abstract thing and so earlier humans learnt love by observation and imitation until it was refined
2006-12-13 11:52:22 · answer #6 · answered by probug 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
really..... how about the many species that form life long bonds.... Isn't that "animal love"?
2006-12-13 11:43:19 · answer #7 · answered by T C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋