Barkley_Rosser 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: Barkley_Rosser 08 January 2008 02:49:52AM 0 points [-]

J. Thomas is right. Religion can evolve in primitive man for purely selfish reasons. Group selection may be relevant only for competition between religions. Hence, all the prisoners' dilemma arguments and tit for tat and all that is irrelevant. The vocal heretic is the loner who loses group support and thus has a very difficult time surviving.

So, back in the primitive tribe, surely there were plenty of people who had doubts about their tribes Ugu Bugu god. But as long as one did not wish to get tossed out of the tribe by the chieftain who at least appeared to worship and pray to Ugu Bugu, it paid the individual to go along to get along. All hail Ugu Bugu!