Human Nature and Public Policy

Human Nature and Public Policy

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Human Nature and Public Policy: An Evolutionary Approach Edited by Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson

HUMAN NATURE AND PUBLIC POLICY Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson, 2003. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2003 978-1-4039-6116-7 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published 2003 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS. Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-52640-6 ISBN 978-1-4039-8209-4 (ebook) DOI 10.1057/9781403982094 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Human nature and public policy: an evolutionary approach/edited by Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4039-6285-0 (alk. Paper) 1. Policy sciences. 2. Human behavior. I. Somit, Albert. II. Peterson, Steven A. H97.H86 2003 320.6 dc21 2002192490 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: June, 2003 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents List of Contributors vii Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Part 1 The Evolutionary Approach and the Standard Social Science Model (SSSM) Understanding of Human Nature and Human Behavior: Policy Relevance From Human Nature to Public Policy: Evolutionary Theory Challenges the Standard Model 3 Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson From Theory to Practice: Caveat Emptor Lionel Tiger 19 Part 2 Implications for Domestic Policy Chapter 3 Prostitution An Evolutionary Perspective 29 Michael McGuire and Margaret Gruter Chapter 4 Relating to the Environment: Legacy and Learning 41 Lynton Keith Caldwell Chapter 5 Neuroscience, Free Will, and Individual Responsibility: Implications for Addictive Behavior 55 Chapter 6 Robert H. Blank The Cultural Evolution of Dying: Euthanasia in the Netherlands 77 Vincent S. E. Falger and Eugene L. F. Falger Chapter 7 Biosocial Theorizing and Criminal Justice Policy 97 Lee Ellis Chapter 8 Evolution and Political Marketing 121 Gad Saad Chapter 9 Explore and Exploit: An Evolutionary Analysis of Institutional Dynamics 139 Arthur T. Denzau and Paul J. Zak

vi Contents Chapter 10 MacLean s Evolutionary Neuroscience and the Conflict Systems Neurobehavioral Model: Some Clinical and Social Policy Implications 161 Gerald A. Cory, Jr. Chapter 11 Altruism and Good Samaritan Law 181 John Strate Part 3 Implications for International Policy Chapter 12 An Ecological Approach to Agricultural Biotechnology Policy 205 Hiram Caton Chapter 13 Ethnic Conflict and State Building 225 Bradley A. Thayer Chapter 14 Genetic and Cultural Evolution: Implications for International Security Policies 243 J. David Singer Index 263

List of Contributors Robert Blank. Chair of Public Policy at Brunel University in London. Previously, he was Chair of Political Science at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. He has published widely in biomedical policy. Recent books include: The Price of Life, Brain Policy, Biology and Political Science. Current research focuses on neurogenetics and public policy. Lynton K. Caldwell. Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Indiana University. He is one of the intellectual parents of the environmental impact statement, at the heart of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). He has written extensively on environmental issues and is internationally known for his work. Hiram Caton. Dr. Caton was Professor of Politics and History at Griffith University (Australia) prior to his retirement. He is currently a Fellow of the Key Center for Ethics, Law, Justice, and Governance at Griffith University. Principal publications listed at amazon.com. Gerald A. Cory, Jr. Director, Center for Behavioral Ecology; teaches in retirement at San Jose State University. Received his Ph.D. from Stanford University. Has been selected to serve as President of the Across-Species Comparisons and Psychopathology Society. Author of such books as The Reciprocal Modular Brain in Economics and Politics, Toward Consilience, and (coedited with Russell Gardner) The Evolutionary Neuroethology of Paul MacLean. Arthur T. Denzau. His research has focused on public sector resource allocation. While teaching History of Economic Thought, he became interested in Evolutionary Epistemology, thus leading him to explore biological ideas in the field of economics. Lee Ellis. Professor of Sociology at Minot State University. His main areas of research interests have to do with criminality, social stratification, and sexual

viii List of Contributors orientation. He has numerous publications on the linkage between biology and criminality. He is currently coediting a volume, Biosocial Criminology: Challenging Environmentalism s Supremacy. Eugene L. F. Falger. An ophthalmologist at St. Jansdal Hospital, Harderwijk, the Netherlands. He has lectured on health care policy and end-of-life issues. Vincent S. E. Falger. Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Utrecht. Research interests cover evolutionary approaches to human nature, international politics, in-group-out-group phenomena, and the abuse of biological theories for political purposes. He is active in the European Sociobiological Society and the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences. Margaret Gruter. Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Heidelberg and J. S. M. from Stanford University Law School. President and Executive Director, Gruter Institute for Law and Behavioral Research. Has taught at Stanford University and Heidelberg University. Her research interest focuses on the interaction between law and biologically based human behavior. Michael McGuire. President of the Biomedical Research Foundation and Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. His research interests include nonhuman primate behavior, nonhuman primate brain physiology, human ethology, and evolutionary interpretations of human behavior. Steven A. Peterson. Professor of Politics and Public Affairs and Director of the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg. Active in Research Committee # 12 (Biology and Politics) of the International Political Science Association as well as the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences. Has published extensively in biopolitics. Gad Saad. He obtained his Ph.D. from Cornell University and his MBA from McGill University. He is currently serving as Visiting Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of California at Irvine. He has a permanent position at Concordia University (Montreal). His relevant research interest is the nexus between marketing and evolutionary psychology. J. David Singer. Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan. He is author of many articles and books on international politics. He is internationally known for his work on war and other topics. Albert Somit. Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at Southern Illinois University. Served as Executive Vice President at the State University of

List of Contributors ix New York at Buffalo and President of Southern Illinois University. A pioneer in biopolitics and the founder of Research Committee # 12 of the International Political Science Association. Has published extensively in biopolitics, including his book (coauthored with Steven Peterson), Darwinism, Dominance, and Democracy. John Strate. Associate Professor of Political Science at Wayne State University and Director of the Master of Public Administration program. Current research interests include the politics of physician-assisted suicides, legislative term limits, and Good Samaritan Law. Bradley Thayer. Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota at Duluth. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. His most recent research applies evolutionary theory to international relations theory and international security issues. Lionel Tiger. Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University. Well known author of books, including: Men in Groups, The Imperial Animal, Optimism: The Biology of Hope, The Manufacture of Evil: Ethics, Evolution, and the Industrial System, The Pursuit of Pleasure, The Decline of Males. Paul Zak. Associate Professor in the School of Politics and Economics at Claremont Graduate University. Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Research focus has been on co-evolution of populations, institutions, and economic performance.