Why don’t we have the ability to “close” our ears, just like our eyes?
In: Biology
Evolution is not a game of optimization, it is a game of “good enough”. Survive until you can reproduce a couple of times and that’s enough. There was no evolutionary pressure strong enough to warrant the ability to shut our ears, so we don’t have that ability.
In fact, most of the reasons to shut your ears are man made. Cars, planes, trains, gunshots. In survival settings, shutting your ears is almost purely a downside. The loud noises are things wed definitely want to hear so we know to move. A falling tree, the roar of a predator, the sounds of violence, thunder. All calls to run for cover. Closing of the eyes has benefits. Protection from harsh light (like the sun, omnipresent), protection from dust and debris. The eyes are front facing, and more likely to be damaged.
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