Why do you think taboos exist? Do they serve a useful societal function?

Some taboos definitely serve a societal function because the act itself is detrimental to society, for example incest, which has certain genetic downfalls. Or any kind of murder, but especially something like matricide is taboo because of the familial connection. Other taboos like bestiality, sodomy, or any disgusting habits might have evolved out of a sense of sanitation or health. Personally I lean towards one specific answer for why taboos exist, and its neither wrong nor right but just my first instinct/guess. I think they exist because life is complicated and hectic enough without people going around doing wierd crazy stuff to make it even worse. So we all collectively decide we aren’t in favor of something, like necrophilia, and then it sort of becomes taboo to go and do THAT. And maybe that taboo discourages some people, and maybe that helps us all a little bit.

I think I once heard that the rule in Leviticus regarding shellfish was originally because medicine at the time wasn’t very advanced (obviously) and it’s very easy to get… food poisoning? I think? Maybe? From shellfish, anyways.

So, even taboos that seem silly are generally there for a reason, even if that reason is no longer relevant.

@Horus515 Interesting… I’d thought about the evolutionary functions of taboos, but I’d never thought about them as some sort of collaborative group consensus.

@Lefty_the_space_monkey Hey Lefty! Yeah shellfish is quite easy to get food poisoning from, because of the nature of how the creatures exist – they filter water through their shells into their bodies, so whatever nastiness or pollution is present in the sea water, will get absorbed into them. Grim. I got food-poisoned by some prawns once, that was nasty.

Anyway, I digress… It amazes me, and you’re right that these types of taboos can stick around long after they may have served their evolutionary purpose.

@jo_with_no_space

Hey yourself!

Ya see, this is why I’ve never been big on eating anything that lived in the water when it was alive. They’re creepy, and gross.

I think it’s kind of weird to realize that almost all of what we feel is normal or ethical is only that way because it helped us survive…

@Lefty_the_space_monkey I agree that they served that purpose originally, but I think the point of being enlightened as we are these days is that we can abandon such taboos against things that would have once killed us. And yet they retain their strength. That’s a testament, I guess, to the importance of survival mechanisms.

@jo_with_no_space otoh, I honestly don’t know how comfortable I’d be with no taboos…

I kind of enjoy ritual, to be totally honest.

@Lefty_the_space_monkey Of course.. ritual is comforting, and still serves a significant social purpose. It’s all good :)