12.2 Homo economicus

Are we always so rational when foraging? Do we only gather the calories we need to feed ourselves and those for whom we are responsible? Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) explains many things about our evolutionary past. The costs (e.g., calories and time spent foraging, risk of predation, or potential injury) must outweigh the benefits (e.g., reproductive success) for OFT to be successful.

This perspective has been deemed Homo economicus in philosophy because it assumes that humans will always make the rational choice when obtaining food, mates, and other resources. As H. economicus, we must be narrowly self-interested, consistently rational, and focused on our own success above and beyond all else. But are we?