Susan,

Darwin's observations suggested that survival is the main priority of living organisms, adding that survival usually belonged to the fittest members of species. If I understand correctly, Veblen believed that comparisons between peers was the most important driver of evolution. If that is correct, you need to be alive to be compared to one's peers, and if being alive means catching more prey, then that is where the priority starts .... No ??? I'm jut speculating that I understood the point in your text, as I haven't read Veblen, although it is an interesting proposition.