On furriness: LiveScience

[polaris93]

Nurturing Animals Shaped Human Evolution | Animal Connection Drove Development of Language and Domestication | LiveScience

[The] earliest known domesticated animal was not a delicious porker, but man's best friend. Shipman considers humans' strong connection with animals, rather than a desire for food, as the more likely explanation for why people

Comments

[galadrion]

In point of fact, I can't think of any animal which has been domesticated which hasn't been a food item. Some of them were bred into existence specifically for food usage.

[polaris93]

Yep. Some science types, including anthropologists, evolutionary psychologists, and their ilk, are One-Note Charlies when it comes to their assumptions underlying their pet theories, including unconscious and tacit ones. In this case, the assumption is: "People love dogs as companion animals/working animals." Notice what isn't there (as in "Yum!"). That's the problem with these LiveScience articles: the people who write them aren't scientists, and don't do the sort of research they ought to before committing light-pen to website.