Polygamy in and of itseld selects fot dominance (not to be misconstrued as physical dominance), however, you would be erroneous to portray polygamous society as being innately primitive, low brow and anti-progress.
Hypothetically, where a society selects for intelligent individuals (intelligent people are more likely to succeed) collective intelligence will be likely to rise at a more rapid rate in polygamous society. In more primitive societies dominance equates to brawn though as society progresses brain acquires greater and greater importance.
Per example, the Macedonian elite practiced polygamy (unlike the Greeks and Romans who kept many concubines and slaves but who together with their offspring were not afforded the same status). Proceeding with the supposition that the elite were smarter and that the practice naturally allowed such men to procreate more, it would be reasonable to assume society progressed through the proliferation of superior genetic material. At least hypothetically that is.
Hypothetically, where a society selects for intelligent individuals (intelligent people are more likely to succeed) collective intelligence will be likely to rise at a more rapid rate in polygamous society. In more primitive societies dominance equates to brawn though as society progresses brain acquires greater and greater importance.
Per example, the Macedonian elite practiced polygamy (unlike the Greeks and Romans who kept many concubines and slaves but who together with their offspring were not afforded the same status). Proceeding with the supposition that the elite were smarter and that the practice naturally allowed such men to procreate more, it would be reasonable to assume society progressed through the proliferation of superior genetic material. At least hypothetically that is.