(December 23, 2022 at 1:44 am)Macoleco Wrote: Indeed through times the concept of love, marriage, and monogamy/polygamy have changed through times. If I am not mistaken the concept of romantic love nowadays is the medieval one.
I think that the emotion has always been the same for all of humanity, but depending on the concept you have of it, you may act in different manners. Love is a topic that is never exhausted
This topic sort of overlaps with another recent thread -- the one about social constructs. Surely attraction between people is built-in, but beyond that everything about marriage, promised monogamy, etc., depends on social custom.
The more I think about it, the more I think that this may be a case where social norms correct and improve biological imperatives. If it's true that men are hard-wired to chase different women, it is nonetheless true that we benefit more in the long run from a deep, long-term commitment. The intentional, active, sometimes difficult effort of keeping one's promise of togetherness has benefits that run deeper than the evolutionary advantage of making as many random babies as possible.
It is to my advantage not to obey what my animal nature wants.
