Matt Ridley
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature
Penguin USA, 1995
ISBN: 0-1402-4548-0
Helga says:
I’m sure you are familiar with this scenario: your computer is too
slow, you upgrade and enjoy your new capacity. But only until the next
version of your software comes out….
You don’t stand a chance. Except for short-lived moments of happiness
your processor will never be fast enough and you will never have enough
memory. No matter how much you try.
Evolutionary biologists call this undignified race the "Theory of
the Red Queen". This theory, supported as well by the author of this
book, says that the mechanisms of evolution have remained the same ever
since the first unicellular organisms appeared. Many species have to come
up with new gimmicks in order to keep up. This constant pressure to change
produces fruit flies, dinosaurs or human beings.
But what compels most species – except for lucky guys like the
nautilus or the crossopterygian – to stay in this rat race? Not only
changing environmental conditions.
The following depiction of the various theories and their supporters is
presented in the shape of a discussion that runs along at a furious pace
and expects a lot from the reader.
In a highly amusing way and with a series of sometimes amazing examples
we learn how strongly sex motivates the players in this game, according to
the Red Queen Theory. But it is not just sex, but also the constant
dissatisfaction of women. A female peacock or moose wants nothing less
than the biggest tail or shovels on their prospective partner. Naturally.
But by always wanting more they put pressure on the poor males to puff
themselves up to the degree that it becomes ridiculous and a disadvantage
in their daily lives. However, their women’s wishes are their commands.
After a while we get to Man whose purpose of life in a biological sense
is to pass on his genes to the next generation. In this chapter the author
falls back on extremely conservative platitudes, to put it mildly.
What do women want? A man with power and status able to protect her and
support her in the difficult task of child raising.
And what do men want? Reproduce. As often as possible and with the
youngest and most beautiful women.
The author is expecting to be chastised by the feminists, but he keeps
pointing out that that’s life and not his fault. At least there’s a
back door for us women. Our genes profit from being mixed with those of a
large number of men. But we have to do it in secret, because the guys don’t
appreciate having to be responsible for other people’s offspring.
Besides, we buried the animal so deeply inside of us that we have free
will. No, we don’t have to submit to the laws of Nature and can make the
choice not to reproduce at all. Or to mate with a biologically
inappropriate partner. The reason we can do this is the punch line of the
theory and shall not be disclosed at this point.
At first sight the conclusion seems amazing and presents fresh points
of view, but after some thought I found it to contain little logic. For
example I’d like to ask the author why man has profited from all that
only for the last 10 000 years. Why go to all this trouble some hundred
thousand years before that? Or why does the owner of a yacht usually have
more and younger chicks about than a professor?
Curious?
All in all an informative read that leaves room for intellectual
debate. Feminists need a good sense of humor to read this.
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