I was listening to "A World Without Men" by Aaron Clarey, and while I am enjoying most of it, he seems to believe in no uncertain terms that the male sex drive is responsible for civilization because males made the transaction that males make with females (i.e. protection and provision for sex).
I do not believe that the males wanting to make a deal with females of resources for sex is why civilization came about.
@DoubleD you probably have a followup post coming but I'll agree with you if your answer is men's desire to create a stable and safe environment for their family instead of simply wanting sex. Men will do a lot for sex, but for their family they will go above and beyond.
@ButtWorldsMan If it was just about sex, then you wouldn't have innovation outside of as a means to facilitate the transaction for sex (whether that transaction is made between a female and male or between a male and another male who is her conservator).
The phenomenon of the single, asexual genius who propels the species forward and the existentialist male who live to improve themselves and their chosen field would not exist.
The hypothesis cannot account for successful existentialists.
@DoubleD @ButtWorldsMan
You guys are right. Aaron Clarey is making the very classic mistake of applying today's standards to entire human history.
Just because families and men owning their own children are impossible (and economically stupid) today and sex is what's left, and assumes it will continue to be so, he forgot before 100 years ago, men actually did everything for their families and most of the time demand very little in return - since they could take or build whatever.
@DoubleD @ButtWorldsMan
But in economics terms, it makes sense because past performance is not indicative of future results. I agree with him that we won't return to old patriarchy, the most sensible and obvious path is to lean into sex robots and artificial wombs. Eventually humanity might simply ban XX chromosomes when we're advanced enough.
@DoubleD I've seen/heard stories about men sacrificing so much just for the sake of their household and children that there is no better answer.