Adaptability limits

The notion of adaptability allows an end to the sterile debate between cultural determinism and genetic determinism. To say that all behavioural attributes come from culture would neglect the innate part of human psychism. To pretend that everything is determined by genes would neglect the share of acquired, induced by culture.

The truth lies between these two extremes: an organism cannot withstand conditions too far from those for which its genetic data guarantee it optimal functioning. But it can adapt to conditions that deviate to a certain limit, corresponding to its adaptability margin.