J_Thomas comments on A Failed Just-So Story - Less Wrong

11 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 05 January 2008 06:35AM

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Comment author: J_Thomas 06 January 2008 08:38:24AM 0 points [-]

Razib, I see you argue that different religions can compete, and what they compete for is converts who perhaps are comparing the benefits the competing religions provide them. Whether individuals make rational choices or whether they irrationally gravitate to the religions that appear to bring prosperity, either way the religions compete.

But I'm talking about how religions could have gotten their start. If people who are predisposed to religion are better at living in larger-than-kinship groups, and if people who live in larger groups survive better, then the spread of predisposition-for-religion can be explained by individual selection without requiring group selection arguments.