Posted: May 26th, 2017

Haidt says that the elephant in his elephant/rider metaphor has evolved through natural selection and acts outside of consciousness (the characteristic located in the rider). Thus, he says, the elephant will pursue evolutionary goals.

1. Haidt says that the elephant in his elephant/rider metaphor has evolved through natural selection and acts outside of consciousness (the characteristic located in the rider). Thus, he says, the elephant will pursue evolutionary goals. But he also says that “the elephant cares about prestige, not happiness.” Isn’t prestige something determined within a person’s meaning system? Surely we didn’t evolve with a natural tendency to seek Rolex over Timex on first sight. Is seeking prestige an exception to the typical characteristics of the elephant or is there a way to view seeking prestige as an evolutionary goal? Elaborate.