• LillyPip@lemmy.ca
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    9 hours ago

    Millions of years, likely. The whole reason we’re successful is because our pre-human ancestors were empathetic and cooperative enough to build societies.

    We see those same traits in many other primates, and they’re not something it makes sense to evolve, lose, and evolve again. Those traits predate us.

    Language almost certainly predates us, since we see it not only in other primates, but in non-primate species, too. And based on the humour we see in many animals, you can bet we were making dick jokes nearly out of the gate.

    • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      Societies weren’t built on empathy, they were built on security. Not just physical security but food as well. No society in history was built on empathy, ever.