The debate over whether it is evolution or culture that shapes human behaviour is one of the biggest in modern science. Yet, amidst these discussions, a more nuanced perspective emerges: there is no division between ‘evolution’ and ‘culture’ – culture itself is part of our evolutionary story, argues Ruth Mace.

This article is presented in association with Closer To Truth, an esteemed partner for the 2024 HowTheLightGetsIn Festival.

This question is taboo in university anthropology departments; many of them dissolved into acrimony debating if culture or evolution drives human behaviour.  Some universities decided to split their anthropology departments, with social or cultural anthropology in one building, and evolutionary anthropologists elsewhere.  In my own department, we agree to differ (although from time to time I learn that someone has not spoken to me for 30 years because of my being in the ‘bad’ camp).  Fortunately, most of our students are now leaving that particular culture war behind.

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Evolution designs not just our bodies but also our minds

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We are evolved beings.  If you want to understand the design of living things, then there are only two options – evolution by natural selection, or divine creation.  If you are happy with divine creation, then I assume that makes it pretty uncomplicated. If not, you are left with evolution.  Evolution designs not just our bodies but also our minds.

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We are also cultural beings.  We are incredibly diverse in terms of how we behave, depending at least in part on where we grew up.  The rules and norms that both govern and divide us, differ from place to place, from one cultural group to another, and are familiar to us from childhood.  These rules reach into every corner of our lives: how we marry, how often we reproduce, how we speak, how we treat males and females and other genders, what we eat, and what we believe.