I know it is often assumed in intellectual circles that people value relationships that are sophisticated and mentally engaging to some extent. But I have not seen any evidence for this being true for humanity in general. Could it not be the case that people actually value relationships that are as simple as possible? For example, it is well-known that people tend to prefer relationships with people of the same ethnic background and culture, social class, etc.
Also, about 'giving up', you could say the same thing about a lot of things. It used to be the case that if you were able-bodied, you were expected to hunt for your food or otherwise trudge into the forest to gather berries. Nowadays most of humanity just buys their food from someone else. Of course, some might still value a meal that is procured by one's own hands, but the majority of humanity nowadays has more important concerns on their mind and the small rewards gained through hunting do not really justify the time and effort required, except for recreational purposes.
It could be that people are happier in simpler relationships, but nature has other plans .....
Today's post, 20 January 2009 was originally published on 20 January 2009. A summary (taken from the LW wiki):
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