Question

What kinds of evidence would you want to show that a particular behavior developed through biological evolution? Or to put it another way, why would it be incorrect to say that wearing shoes is the result of biological evolution?

Answer 1

Biological Evolution is the process of modification of biological features and attributes of any organism which helps them in adapting for survival. However, modifications in behaviour are not a biological phenomena but mostly this happens through learning and conditioning. Learning and conditioning are result of reinforcements and punishments or negative reinforcements. For Example- Wearing shoes or any other footwear became a part of our daily life as when humans did not live in concrete housing and well paved paths they came across stones, insects and other elements under their feet which can be uncomfortable or sometimes dangerous. In the starting humans must have learned that attaching leaves to their feet can help them address this problem. Later this technology advanced through reinforcement of comfort and protection. A biological process would be our feet developing soles like other animals to deal with these issues over the period of many centuries. Humans are inherit cognitive abilities way better than other organisms this helps them deal with problems effectively and not waiting for the evolution to fix it.