Last night, on Charlie Rose, I watched one of the most fascinating conversations of my life (Charlie Rose thought it was his best program ever). James Watson ( the guy that co-discovered DNA and was the head of the Genome project) and Edward Wilson (The leading Sociobiologist) were on to discuss Darwin, and other scientific advances.
First, they both talked about how Darwin is essentially their Jesus and Mohammed and Abraham rolled into one, and how he actually is correct, whereas the religious types did the best they could with the limited knowledge of their times.
Second, and most importantly they had a long conversation about genetics and sociobiology/psychology. Watson explainied if he were young again, he would spend his life researching how the brain works. Anyway, the findings in the last 20 years are rather revolutionary. Both claim that all of us are very different and a product of our genes. It doesnt matter what kind of environment one is placed in, their genes determine who they are. They both acknowledged that yes family and culture do have a impact, but it is not nearly as big in determining the individual as previously thought ( they used the example of a poet: one born with a genetic predilection towards poetry will most likely be better if they were Irish and not a Eskimo due to culture influences; but they'd both still be poets). Hence, there is no equality, and no amount of education will make a violent man, less violent, or a person bad at math, any better. Thus, they both claimed that all of the social sciences, and pyschology are essentially wrong, and have devised erroneous theories and policies due to this belief in equality, environment etc. They foresee the brain to be totally understood sometime in this coming century, and for there to be a serious biological/psychological revolution.
Even more fascinating is how they both thought many behaviors have been bred out--or have been largely reduced through natural selection. The one they talked about most is violence. They both state that in the last 20,000 years as we have had to live and work togewther in cities etc, those persons that were inherently violent were increasingly shunned and kicked out; not allowing them to breed any further.
Thus, here are two men, who have won about every award in the world, and one who maybe made the greatest scientific advances ever, both entirely upturning the ideas of free will, religion, environment, and the social sciences and psychology. Essentially politically, both conservative and liberal ideas as well.
I wanted to get everyone's reaction, as I know we discuss these topics all the time.
First, they both talked about how Darwin is essentially their Jesus and Mohammed and Abraham rolled into one, and how he actually is correct, whereas the religious types did the best they could with the limited knowledge of their times.
Second, and most importantly they had a long conversation about genetics and sociobiology/psychology. Watson explainied if he were young again, he would spend his life researching how the brain works. Anyway, the findings in the last 20 years are rather revolutionary. Both claim that all of us are very different and a product of our genes. It doesnt matter what kind of environment one is placed in, their genes determine who they are. They both acknowledged that yes family and culture do have a impact, but it is not nearly as big in determining the individual as previously thought ( they used the example of a poet: one born with a genetic predilection towards poetry will most likely be better if they were Irish and not a Eskimo due to culture influences; but they'd both still be poets). Hence, there is no equality, and no amount of education will make a violent man, less violent, or a person bad at math, any better. Thus, they both claimed that all of the social sciences, and pyschology are essentially wrong, and have devised erroneous theories and policies due to this belief in equality, environment etc. They foresee the brain to be totally understood sometime in this coming century, and for there to be a serious biological/psychological revolution.
Even more fascinating is how they both thought many behaviors have been bred out--or have been largely reduced through natural selection. The one they talked about most is violence. They both state that in the last 20,000 years as we have had to live and work togewther in cities etc, those persons that were inherently violent were increasingly shunned and kicked out; not allowing them to breed any further.
Thus, here are two men, who have won about every award in the world, and one who maybe made the greatest scientific advances ever, both entirely upturning the ideas of free will, religion, environment, and the social sciences and psychology. Essentially politically, both conservative and liberal ideas as well.
I wanted to get everyone's reaction, as I know we discuss these topics all the time.
