I'm not a historian, but I'm pretty sure that the example you give is not really an example of coordination by men in general but rather coordination of elite men to protect their interests from the interests of non-elite men
The result is a generalizable rule against adultery for all though.
I think you're assuming a much freer situation for elite women (and less class stratification) than they had in many societies for this to be the central threat. If anything men would be more afraid of people of their own class.
Even the phrase "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife," addressed to men, suggests that this norm was about regulating the relations among men; the interests of women don't seem to be much of a factor one way or another.
I can hardly disagree given my point. Managing male anxieties over paternity is about managing male relations. But this still shows a concern for other men and didn't apply only to the rich. Throwaway gave a potential Pinkerian reason the elites not that concerned about managing relations in this way.
In those days, elite men married multiple women. Which means there were likely non-elite men who were the Biblical equivalent of incels. How convenient that these bachelors were subject to an order from the Almighty to refrain from making a move on the woman of a high status man.
The Bible isn't actually that bad about this. It's still a generalizable principle. My final, irreversible apostatizing from Islam came when I saw Q33:53:
O believers! Do not enter the homes of the Prophet without permission ˹and if invited˺ for a meal, do not ˹come too early and˺ linger until the meal is ready. But if you are invited, then enter ˹on time˺. Once you have eaten, then go on your way, and do not stay for casual talk. Such behaviour is truly annoying to the Prophet, yet he is too shy to ask you to leave. But Allah is never shy of the truth. And when you ˹believers˺ ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a barrier. This is purer for your hearts and theirs. And it is not right for you to annoy the Messenger of Allah, nor ever marry his wives after him. This would certainly be a major offence in the sight of Allah.
Yeah, you just can't convince me that this isn't Arab Joseph Smith after this and the Zayd story.
In this case Mohammed has the defense that he also released verses defending the rights of all men where they intersected with his. And the nature of the religion - which allows Muslim male exogamy but not female exogamy and sexual access to slaves and a preference for not enslaving Muslims - were all supposed to work in favor of giving a Muslim man options. I suppose that is another example of a group of men with shared interests setting up rules to benefit them.
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The result is a generalizable rule against adultery for all though.
I think you're assuming a much freer situation for elite women (and less class stratification) than they had in many societies for this to be the central threat. If anything men would be more afraid of people of their own class.
I can hardly disagree given my point. Managing male anxieties over paternity is about managing male relations. But this still shows a concern for other men and didn't apply only to the rich. Throwaway gave a potential Pinkerian reason the elites not that concerned about managing relations in this way.
The Bible isn't actually that bad about this. It's still a generalizable principle. My final, irreversible apostatizing from Islam came when I saw Q33:53:
Yeah, you just can't convince me that this isn't Arab Joseph Smith after this and the Zayd story.
In this case Mohammed has the defense that he also released verses defending the rights of all men where they intersected with his. And the nature of the religion - which allows Muslim male exogamy but not female exogamy and sexual access to slaves and a preference for not enslaving Muslims - were all supposed to work in favor of giving a Muslim man options. I suppose that is another example of a group of men with shared interests setting up rules to benefit them.
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