Ideas on the Evolutionary Origins of Human Kinship

Barbara Smuts, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Marvin Harris, Bernard Chapais, and Robin Fox on the Evolutionary Origins of Human Kinship
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Barbara Smuts, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Marvin Harris, Bernard Chapais, and Robin Fox on the Evolutionary Origins of Human Kinship
Many prominent figures in the field of evolutionary anthropology have theorized the evolutionary origins of human kinship. Barbara Smuts, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Marvin Harris, Bernard Chapais, and Robin Fox all hold different perspectives. However, they all generally believe kinship is an adaptation of humans that has arisen through natural selection (Stone, 2008).
Smuts believes that kinship is a product of our social environment and has evolved as a result of our need to cooperate and form groups. Hrdy argues that kinship is an adaptation designed to promote the survival of the individual and the group (Stone, 2008). Harris believes that kinship is a product of our evolutionary history and is rooted in our biology. On the other hand, Chapais believes kinship is an adaptation that has arisen through cooperation and competition between organisms. Fox also believes kinship is a product of our evolutionary history but may not be rooted in biology (Stone & King, 2019).
Each of these theorists has a different perspective on the origin and evolution of kinship. However, they all share the belief that it is an adaptation that has arisen through natural selection...