Evolution does not exclusively produce beneficial variants. With every generation, many variants may appear, most of which are likely to not be beneficial. A species does not require every member to be successful in order for the species to continue. Additionally, species do die out, so we can see that evolution is not a perfect mechanism for keeping species alive.
What we have are 'random' variations, and if a particular member of a species reproduces, it passes on whatever heritable characteristics possessed by its sperm or egg. If it does not reproduce, it may still aid in relatives reproducing, so some of its heritable characteristics may still be passed on via its relatives reproducing. Keep in mind, it is whatever reproduces that matters, not those members that might have the 'best' characteristics for the long run.
In the typical case, a willingness to have sex with multiple types of things is generally not problematic. If an animal is willing to have sex with other species, as long as it is not hurt in the process, it makes little difference for its ability to reproduce offspring with its own species. Just think about a man who has sex every day, with every other day him having sex with a sheep instead of a human. He is still going to be able to reproduce plenty of human offspring, and his extra proclivities will matter little for his ability to reproduce. Likewise, if a woman has sex with a sheep every other day, that, too, will not stop her from being able to reproduce.
On a related note, there are videos on youtube of cats and dogs having sex with each other. Sexual animals have sex with what is available (or they don't have sex at all), and it does not make them unable to reproduce.
If a man has sex with children and adults, he may easily produce children with the sex with other adults. The same idea, of course, applies to women. Having sex with children does not prevent one from reproducing with adults.
So, if pedophilia is a heritable trait, it may be passed on, without the act of having sex with prepubescent children producing children.
People often think of evolution as some plan for making things better. That is wrong. Whatever reproduces is what is reproduced. And whatever characteristics are thus passed on are the characteristics that are available for the next generation. It is not a plan, and it is not making things necessarily "better."
Evolution is not teleological. It is not furthering a purpose. It is just a matter of what is passed on, not a matter of seeking any goal.
Goals are things that emotional beings have. They are not things nature as a whole has.
What we have are 'random' variations, and if a particular member of a species reproduces, it passes on whatever heritable characteristics possessed by its sperm or egg. If it does not reproduce, it may still aid in relatives reproducing, so some of its heritable characteristics may still be passed on via its relatives reproducing. Keep in mind, it is whatever reproduces that matters, not those members that might have the 'best' characteristics for the long run.
In the typical case, a willingness to have sex with multiple types of things is generally not problematic. If an animal is willing to have sex with other species, as long as it is not hurt in the process, it makes little difference for its ability to reproduce offspring with its own species. Just think about a man who has sex every day, with every other day him having sex with a sheep instead of a human. He is still going to be able to reproduce plenty of human offspring, and his extra proclivities will matter little for his ability to reproduce. Likewise, if a woman has sex with a sheep every other day, that, too, will not stop her from being able to reproduce.
On a related note, there are videos on youtube of cats and dogs having sex with each other. Sexual animals have sex with what is available (or they don't have sex at all), and it does not make them unable to reproduce.
If a man has sex with children and adults, he may easily produce children with the sex with other adults. The same idea, of course, applies to women. Having sex with children does not prevent one from reproducing with adults.
So, if pedophilia is a heritable trait, it may be passed on, without the act of having sex with prepubescent children producing children.
People often think of evolution as some plan for making things better. That is wrong. Whatever reproduces is what is reproduced. And whatever characteristics are thus passed on are the characteristics that are available for the next generation. It is not a plan, and it is not making things necessarily "better."
Evolution is not teleological. It is not furthering a purpose. It is just a matter of what is passed on, not a matter of seeking any goal.
Goals are things that emotional beings have. They are not things nature as a whole has.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
