Abstract
Abstract
The target article by Stibbard Hawkes and von Rueden (SHVR) provides useful terminological housekeeping, but its individualistic account of egalitarianism in small-scale societies risks overlooking important group-level functions. We argue that egalitarian norms are not merely by-products of individual strategies but actively sustain cooperation, coordination, and collective decision-making, enhancing group stability and collective intelligence. A full account of egalitarianism must integrate both individual-level processes and emergent group-level outcomes. Egalitarianism not only constrains inequality but also underwrites the cooperative capacities of small-scale societies.