Did we evolve from anger and violence? Raymond Dart's Killer Ape Theory suggests that violence is the sole reason for our existence.
What is the Killer Ape Theory (Information)
Raymond Dart proposed the theory that the sole purpose of human evolution was achieved with the aim of war and aggression, which was coined the “killer ape theory”.. Raymond Dart came up with the hypothesis that humans hunted and killed each other due with bones of the animals they hunted for food by observing the skulls and remains .
The killer ape theory gives us clues as to why we admire violence, without blaming mental illness and personality disorders. It uses evolution to explain why we are so determined to turn to violence , especially when we are upset., why we love to see others in pain and why we love to spank our partners. It also explains why we should have an outlet to release our anger rather than suppressing it to fit in and told it is wrong.
Disproven due to our own ignorance?
Arguably, this theory has been disproved countless times, nevertheless, it is an interesting theory as to why we are so violent and need violence and why oppressing our evolutionary traits can do more harm than good. However, has this theory really been disproven, maybe we as humans can not exchange the the idea we are a peaceful species for the idea that we are actually very violent. Perhaps we can not admit humans are like apes, and other animals rather than being smarter or more well behaved and civilized. As stated by Briand, humans want to feel as though we are peaceful and "altruistic" and this theory dismantles that. As a species we all think we are not violent, we are not as violent as a serial killer, but we all have that violence in us as our ancestors did."Disproving" this theory helps us to keep believing we are all good, only psychopaths and animals are violent and ill. Which also intertwines with sanism, as we believe we are superior than those who are violent when we all have it in us to be violent. Even when biology tells us we are, we must get rid of that evidence somehow so we "disprove" it anyway we can so we can keep the violent behaviors with the apes and serial killers and the crazy people.
How does the Killer Ape theory relate to the violent urges? (Information)
Our true nature to be violent, not always kind
IF we subscribe to the killer ape theory we will notice that humans have always been violent creatures and it is not our fault but evolution’s fault we are violent creatures, Ultimately, our ancestors had to kill for food, to make clothing thus allowing a substitute target to release anger when they fought predators to survive. Even gathering plants was an outlet to release anger, pulling and cutting what was needed was a great tool to displace anger. We do not have that anymore as we can buy clothing and buy food at the store. As we live in a society where we have no outlet to release our ancestors’ anger and violence we must release it somehow. Without the knowledge of how to release anger and the urge to be violent safely, people project their violent nature onto others for we developed a need to kill because of the need to hunt and defend themselves
According to Paul at All Empires, the killer ape theory claims because we had no choice but to increase our violent behavior to survive it consequently, increased our desires to kill and to be violent. Towards each other. The effects from humans hunting and protecting themselves is that we have evolved to be violent creatures for those needs pressured our ancestors to be violent. Without the need to hunt and have something to be able to take our violent desire onto, we now hurt each other to fulfil our sadistic desires that are the result of hunting and evolving from violence. We are told we must be neat and proper whereas non-humans animals are not given such strict rules. They mainly kill to eat, they also get extremely rough with each other during play.
What about the vegan argument?
Numerous vegan stances have a firm belief that our ancestors were vegan and we evolved to be plant eaters, not carnivores. If this is true I believe that the killer ape theory could still be realistic as we still had to work for those plants and in doing so we had an outlet for our aggression. Our ancestors still had to fight against enemies, both non-human and human alike and we still had to use our energy for survival instead of sitting all day and letting it form into aggression and anger.
Acknowledge your inner ape because suppressing it can end in disaster.
Society argues greatly that violence, psychopathy and sadism stem from upbringing our own own brain chemistry. Perhaps our violent behavior comes from suppressing human nature and hiding away from ourselves. The more we oppress anger and violent desires these feelings eventually come out and play and when they do it is more harsher than if a person found a proper place to release them. Moreso, violent urges come out and play in unsafe, uncontrolled circumstances because we are told we are bad and should be shunned from society for these natural human behaviors. Because of this, we let these drives build up over time, instead of sprinkling them around sparingly.
References
Briand, P. (n.d.). The Killer Ape. Retrieved August 13, 2017, from http://www.genbriand.com.ar/the_killer_ape.htm
All Empires. (n.d.). Killer Ape/Cuddly Ape. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=killer_ape_cuddly_ape
Scott, M. (n.d.). Rocky Road: Raymond Dart. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from http://www.strangescience.net/dart.htm
Guerrilla News. (n.d.). From “Man the Hunter” to Homo X: Rethinking Human Nature | Guerrilla News. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from https://guerrillanews.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/from-%E2%80%9Cman-the-hunter%E2%80%9D-to-homo-x-rethinking-human-nature
MacGowan, T. (n.d.). Killer Ape Theory Disproved - Issue 381. Retrieved August 30, 2017, from https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/381-summer-fall-2009/killer-ape-theory-disproved/
Wikipedia. (2017, August 17). Killer ape theory. Retrieved August 30, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_ape_theory
Sussman. W. R,. The Myth of Man the Hunter/ Man the Killer and the Evolution of Human Morality. Ch.20. Retriived from http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/current/readings/sussman.pdf
Briand, P. (n.d.). The Killer Ape. Retrieved August 13, 2017, from http://www.genbriand.com.ar/the_killer_ape.htm
All Empires. (n.d.). Killer Ape/Cuddly Ape. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=killer_ape_cuddly_ape
Scott, M. (n.d.). Rocky Road: Raymond Dart. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from http://www.strangescience.net/dart.htm
Guerrilla News. (n.d.). From “Man the Hunter” to Homo X: Rethinking Human Nature | Guerrilla News. Retrieved August 28, 2017, from https://guerrillanews.wordpress.com/2010/01/07/from-%E2%80%9Cman-the-hunter%E2%80%9D-to-homo-x-rethinking-human-nature
MacGowan, T. (n.d.). Killer Ape Theory Disproved - Issue 381. Retrieved August 30, 2017, from https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/381-summer-fall-2009/killer-ape-theory-disproved/
Wikipedia. (2017, August 17). Killer ape theory. Retrieved August 30, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_ape_theory
Sussman. W. R,. The Myth of Man the Hunter/ Man the Killer and the Evolution of Human Morality. Ch.20. Retriived from http://www.unl.edu/rhames/courses/current/readings/sussman.pdf