Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.5078
Seductive Storytelling: Geoffrey Miller's Hypothesis on the Role of Sexual Selection in the Evolution of Narrative Creativity
Ante Jerić
; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
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* Corresponding author.
Abstract
In this paper, I present and criticise Geoffrey Miller’s hy-
pothesis concerning the decisive role of sexual selection in
the evolution of narrative creativity. The paper is structured
in three parts. In the first part, I present the theory of sexual
selection and outline the reasons why Miller applies it be-
yond its original biological domain. I examine Darwin’s dis-
tinction between natural and sexual selection in more detail,
showing how Miller reinterprets the latter as a process that
shapes not only physical but also some mental characteris-
tics of organisms. According to Miller, specifically human
mental traits – such as language, artistic creation, morality,
and creativity – evolved in the context of courtship as fit-
ness indicators on the basis of which members of both sex-
es chose their partners for reproduction. In the second part,
I show that these traits do not meet the criteria by which
fitness indicators are usually recognised. Such indicators
should develop fully only after sexual maturity, should be
less developed in individuals whose general physical con-
dition is poor, and, generally speaking, should not primarily
contribute to the organism’s chances of survival but might
even reduce them. None of these conditions, however, can
be said to apply to the mental abilities that Miller considers.
In the third part, I critically reexamine and reject Miller’s
claim that narrative creativity evolved for the purpose of
courtship. Narrative creation is an activity that can be used
for sexual competition – just like many other types of behav-
iour – but Miller does not provide sufficiently strong reasons
to believe that it evolved specifically for that purpose.
Keywords
costly signals; fitness indicators; Geoffrey Miller; literary Darwinism; sexual selection
Hrčak ID:
349361
URI
Publication date:
14.7.2026.
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