Eco-VEMS

Dear Bob,

First I would like to express that I generally agree with your idea of VEMS
and its role in complex societies. As you have pointed out yourself
however, the situation gets complicated when we refer to the evolution of
VEMS and the creation of social information from archaic human groups. From
my background in evolutionary biology I would emphasize the importance of
mating systems on the emergence on social networks. From this point of view
"jack of all trades" are unnecessary and we may hypothesize that organized
groups have been around since the inception of anisogamy (the creation of
disproportionately different sized gametes, i.e. females and males). Not to
mention the organization automatically derived from stages in the life
cycle (age classes: child, adolescent, warrior, wisewoman).

So, I would not agree that there is LESS social information in the archaic
bands. A social network can probably be found in any primitive "natural"
group (probably a hierarchy) which exerts a top down effect on individuals
(i.e. "coercive cooperation") based on mating priority/choices and personal
accumulation of knowledge about the world.

On another point, in your recent emails, as well as you recent publication
in the Biosystems Special Issue (Vienna conference) I notice a bit of a
social information paradox. If I understand correctly, Step 1. is that the
individuals interact somehow (either by hunting together or raids.. as in
your last email) and form a social network. Step 2. this network advances
in communicating information by rituals and rites and eventually to VEMS.
Step 3. (here is the confusing part) the VEMS in turn may force the
individual to become more self-conscious and in turn affect the VEM. If I
erase step 1. (by my first point of mating systems) VEMS are ubiquitous and
natural and have not been "created" per se.

Yours,
Morris

P.S. Pedro, sorry about the confusion with my present second address. It
actually had posta.unizar.es on it for a reason though, since I have been
collaborating with some biochem. people from the University of Zaragoza. In
fact, I may even move my post-doc there quite soon so I can visit you and
discuss this personally!
Received on Tue Oct 13 12:01:01 1998