I’m a biology researcher and so everything in my work makes sense only
everything in my work makes sense only
everything in my work makes sense only in the light of evolution today I’d like
in the light of evolution today I’d like
in the light of evolution today I’d like to tell you about why I think we need a
to tell you about why I think we need a
to tell you about why I think we need a deeper understanding of how Darwinian
deeper understanding of how Darwinian
deeper understanding of how Darwinian evolution has shaped to mind and
evolution has shaped to mind and
evolution has shaped to mind and motivations of the human animal and in
motivations of the human animal and in
motivations of the human animal and in particular why it hasn’t made us as
particular why it hasn’t made us as
particular why it hasn’t made us as smart as we often think we are here’s
smart as we often think we are here’s
smart as we often think we are here’s why it matters
why it matters
why it matters civilization as we know it is in trouble
civilization as we know it is in trouble
civilization as we know it is in trouble we’ve become too successful there are
we’ve become too successful there are
we’ve become too successful there are too many of us now and we’re trashing
too many of us now and we’re trashing
too many of us now and we’re trashing the planet we got this way because of
the planet we got this way because of
the planet we got this way because of what we are and the critical question is
what we are and the critical question is
what we are and the critical question is are we equipped to respond effectively
are we equipped to respond effectively
are we equipped to respond effectively to what we have done there is no reason
to what we have done there is no reason
to what we have done there is no reason to suspect that we should be and there
to suspect that we should be and there
to suspect that we should be and there is plenty of reason to suspect that we
is plenty of reason to suspect that we
is plenty of reason to suspect that we may not be here I argue that being
may not be here I argue that being
may not be here I argue that being equipped will depend on whether we can
equipped will depend on whether we can
equipped will depend on whether we can come to a deeper and more broadly public
come to a deeper and more broadly public
come to a deeper and more broadly public understanding of what we are and this
understanding of what we are and this
understanding of what we are and this will require understanding that what we
will require understanding that what we
will require understanding that what we are is from the past and so what are we
are is from the past and so what are we
are is from the past and so what are we humans are fascinated with themselves
humans are fascinated with themselves
humans are fascinated with themselves our obsession with this question is why
our obsession with this question is why
our obsession with this question is why the arts and humanities exist they have
the arts and humanities exist they have
the arts and humanities exist they have given us more than science a mirror of
given us more than science a mirror of
given us more than science a mirror of the inner self showing how the
the inner self showing how the
the inner self showing how the motivations and social lives and
motivations and social lives and
motivations and social lives and cultures of humans are unlike any other
cultures of humans are unlike any other
cultures of humans are unlike any other creature but they have not shown us why
creature but they have not shown us why
creature but they have not shown us why and they have never aspired to do so the
and they have never aspired to do so the
and they have never aspired to do so the arts and humanities thrive by leaving
arts and humanities thrive by leaving
arts and humanities thrive by leaving the water art we question essentially
the water art we question essentially
the water art we question essentially unanswered as an enduring and revered
unanswered as an enduring and revered
unanswered as an enduring and revered mystery but evolutionary biology has
mystery but evolutionary biology has
mystery but evolutionary biology has given us a very clear and certain
given us a very clear and certain
given us a very clear and certain perspective of what we are we are an
perspective of what we are we are an
perspective of what we are we are an animal among many millions of others the
animal among many millions of others the
animal among many millions of others the vast majority of which have long been
vast majority of which have long been
vast majority of which have long been extinct a species that is only about
extinct a species that is only about
extinct a species that is only about 200000 years old but descended from a
200000 years old but descended from a
200000 years old but descended from a very long lineage most of which was not
very long lineage most of which was not
very long lineage most of which was not human when Charles Darwin published his
human when Charles Darwin published his
human when Charles Darwin published his theory on the origin of species in 1859
theory on the origin of species in 1859
theory on the origin of species in 1859 one of his main public opponents was a
one of his main public opponents was a
one of his main public opponents was a clergyman named Bishop Wilberforce his
clergyman named Bishop Wilberforce his
clergyman named Bishop Wilberforce his wife was famously reported to have said
wife was famously reported to have said
wife was famously reported to have said in a conversation to a friend my dear
in a conversation to a friend my dear
in a conversation to a friend my dear have you heard mr. Darwin’s theory that
have you heard mr. Darwin’s theory that
have you heard mr. Darwin’s theory that we are all descended from apes let us
we are all descended from apes let us
we are all descended from apes let us hope that this is not true and if true
hope that this is not true and if true
hope that this is not true and if true let us hope that it not become generally
let us hope that it not become generally
let us hope that it not become generally known while the hope of mrs. Wilberforce
known while the hope of mrs. Wilberforce
known while the hope of mrs. Wilberforce turned out to be a prophecy largely
turned out to be a prophecy largely
turned out to be a prophecy largely fulfilled for example in the province of
fulfilled for example in the province of
fulfilled for example in the province of Ontario the amount of human evolution
Ontario the amount of human evolution
Ontario the amount of human evolution that is required to be covered in the
that is required to be covered in the
that is required to be covered in the high school curriculum is zero and so it
high school curriculum is zero and so it
high school curriculum is zero and so it seems to me as a biologist that in
seems to me as a biologist that in
seems to me as a biologist that in responding effectively to a collapsing
responding effectively to a collapsing
responding effectively to a collapsing civilization our greatest limitation is
civilization our greatest limitation is
civilization our greatest limitation is that we don’t really know ourselves very
that we don’t really know ourselves very
that we don’t really know ourselves very well at all like other animals the
well at all like other animals the
well at all like other animals the behavior of humans is informed by the
behavior of humans is informed by the
behavior of humans is informed by the effects of genes inherited from the
effects of genes inherited from the
effects of genes inherited from the ancestral past but our genes do not bark
ancestral past but our genes do not bark
ancestral past but our genes do not bark orders they only whisper to us these
orders they only whisper to us these
orders they only whisper to us these animals are creatures who spend their
animals are creatures who spend their
animals are creatures who spend their whole lives just trying to get fed stay
whole lives just trying to get fed stay
whole lives just trying to get fed stay alive and get laid
alive and get laid
alive and get laid that’s about it but that’s all they need
that’s about it but that’s all they need
that’s about it but that’s all they need in order to leave descendants in other
in order to leave descendants in other
in order to leave descendants in other words for gene transmission success
words for gene transmission success
words for gene transmission success which is what biologists call
which is what biologists call
which is what biologists call evolutionary fitness and these extinct
evolutionary fitness and these extinct
evolutionary fitness and these extinct species of early humans were probably
species of early humans were probably
species of early humans were probably also creatures who spent their whole
also creatures who spent their whole
also creatures who spent their whole lives just trying to get fed stay alive
lives just trying to get fed stay alive
lives just trying to get fed stay alive and mate with each other and this is
and mate with each other and this is
and mate with each other and this is certainly true of chimpanzees our
certainly true of chimpanzees our
certainly true of chimpanzees our closest living genetic relative in the
closest living genetic relative in the
closest living genetic relative in the family of great apes survival and sex
family of great apes survival and sex
family of great apes survival and sex done well is pretty much all that these
done well is pretty much all that these
done well is pretty much all that these animals require in order to transmit
animals require in order to transmit
animals require in order to transmit gene copies successfully into future
gene copies successfully into future
gene copies successfully into future generations and of course our species
generations and of course our species
generations and of course our species must also accomplish these in order to
must also accomplish these in order to
must also accomplish these in order to leave descendants but the motivations of
leave descendants but the motivations of
leave descendants but the motivations of modern humans involve so much more as
modern humans involve so much more as
modern humans involve so much more as acclaimed philosopher Albert Camus said
acclaimed philosopher Albert Camus said
acclaimed philosopher Albert Camus said we humans are creatures who spend our
we humans are creatures who spend our
we humans are creatures who spend our whole lives trying to convince ourselves
whole lives trying to convince ourselves
whole lives trying to convince ourselves that our existence is not absurd our
that our existence is not absurd our
that our existence is not absurd our species inherited genes from ancestors
species inherited genes from ancestors
species inherited genes from ancestors that gave us an awareness of time
that gave us an awareness of time
that gave us an awareness of time awareness of self and an awareness that
awareness of self and an awareness that
awareness of self and an awareness that others also have self-awareness this
others also have self-awareness this
others also have self-awareness this gave us a whole new advanced toolkit for
gave us a whole new advanced toolkit for
gave us a whole new advanced toolkit for social intelligence on a scale
social intelligence on a scale
social intelligence on a scale unavailable to other animals allowing us
unavailable to other animals allowing us
unavailable to other animals allowing us to predict the behavior of others and to
to predict the behavior of others and to
to predict the behavior of others and to gauge how we might be perceived by
gauge how we might be perceived by
gauge how we might be perceived by others we became ever more skilled
others we became ever more skilled
others we became ever more skilled experts at cooperation negotiation and
experts at cooperation negotiation and
experts at cooperation negotiation and teamwork and at the same time masters of
teamwork and at the same time masters of
teamwork and at the same time masters of manipulation deception cheating and
manipulation deception cheating and
manipulation deception cheating and lying
but this self-consciousness also gave us
but this self-consciousness also gave us an ability to foresee our own death a
an ability to foresee our own death a
an ability to foresee our own death a being who knows that he will die arose
being who knows that he will die arose
being who knows that he will die arose from ancestors who did not know this
from ancestors who did not know this
from ancestors who did not know this might have been all well and fine but
might have been all well and fine but
might have been all well and fine but natural selection was not finished
natural selection was not finished
natural selection was not finished it also gave us an anxiety about this
it also gave us an anxiety about this
it also gave us an anxiety about this but not so much an anxiety about the
but not so much an anxiety about the
but not so much an anxiety about the eventual experience of literal death
eventual experience of literal death
eventual experience of literal death rather it gave us an anxiety about what
rather it gave us an anxiety about what
rather it gave us an anxiety about what eventual death imposes impermanence of
eventual death imposes impermanence of
eventual death imposes impermanence of the self self impermanence anxiety is
the self self impermanence anxiety is
the self self impermanence anxiety is about worrying that one’s life is absurd
about worrying that one’s life is absurd
about worrying that one’s life is absurd meaningless pointless without purpose
meaningless pointless without purpose
meaningless pointless without purpose it’s a fear of not being able to leave
it’s a fear of not being able to leave
it’s a fear of not being able to leave something of oneself for the future not
something of oneself for the future not
something of oneself for the future not just because time brings eventual death
just because time brings eventual death
just because time brings eventual death but more specifically because in
but more specifically because in
but more specifically because in bringing eventual death time inevitably
bringing eventual death time inevitably
bringing eventual death time inevitably annihilates all that we do and all that
annihilates all that we do and all that
annihilates all that we do and all that we are and so our evolution has given us
we are and so our evolution has given us
we are and so our evolution has given us some self impermanence anxiety buffers
some self impermanence anxiety buffers
some self impermanence anxiety buffers to manage this curse of consciousness
to manage this curse of consciousness
to manage this curse of consciousness there are two types and they are
there are two types and they are
there are two types and they are represented very effectively in this
represented very effectively in this
represented very effectively in this well-known manifesto for life dream as
well-known manifesto for life dream as
well-known manifesto for life dream as if you will live forever live as if you
if you will live forever live as if you
if you will live forever live as if you will die today the first of these is
will die today the first of these is
will die today the first of these is just a delusion about being able to
just a delusion about being able to
just a delusion about being able to leave a legacy something of oneself that
leave a legacy something of oneself that
leave a legacy something of oneself that will transcend death and the second is a
will transcend death and the second is a
will transcend death and the second is a distraction provided by leisure free
distraction provided by leisure free
distraction provided by leisure free time indulgence in opportunities for
time indulgence in opportunities for
time indulgence in opportunities for pleasure and so humans have more than
pleasure and so humans have more than
pleasure and so humans have more than just a survival Drive and a sex drive we
just a survival Drive and a sex drive we
just a survival Drive and a sex drive we are also motivated by what I call a
are also motivated by what I call a
are also motivated by what I call a legacy drive and a leisure drive the
legacy drive and a leisure drive the
legacy drive and a leisure drive the critical question though is why would
critical question though is why would
critical question though is why would evolution give us an anxiety about self
evolution give us an anxiety about self
evolution give us an anxiety about self and permanence perhaps it was just an
and permanence perhaps it was just an
and permanence perhaps it was just an emotional cost that for our ancestors
emotional cost that for our ancestors
emotional cost that for our ancestors was worth paying because it was
was worth paying because it was
was worth paying because it was generally outweighed by the fitness
generally outweighed by the fitness
generally outweighed by the fitness benefits of the awareness of time and
benefits of the awareness of time and
benefits of the awareness of time and self-consciousness
self-consciousness
self-consciousness I suggest that our ancestors could
I suggest that our ancestors could
I suggest that our ancestors could manage this anxiety because they evolved
manage this anxiety because they evolved
manage this anxiety because they evolved dispositions to be easily distracted by
dispositions to be easily distracted by
dispositions to be easily distracted by leisure and cultural evolution informed
leisure and cultural evolution informed
leisure and cultural evolution informed by biological evolution has given us a
by biological evolution has given us a
by biological evolution has given us a large leisure menu to choose from all of
large leisure menu to choose from all of
large leisure menu to choose from all of these many modern domains of leisure
these many modern domains of leisure
these many modern domains of leisure drive are rooted in the same kinds of
drive are rooted in the same kinds of
drive are rooted in the same kinds of pleasure modules that rewarded the
pleasure modules that rewarded the
pleasure modules that rewarded the reproductive success of ancestors
reproductive success of ancestors
reproductive success of ancestors including those associated with
including those associated with
including those associated with obtaining food securing shelter
obtaining food securing shelter
obtaining food securing shelter exploration social status success in
exploration social status success in
exploration social status success in competition cooperation and social
competition cooperation and social
competition cooperation and social alliances companionship intimacy family
alliances companionship intimacy family
alliances companionship intimacy family relations recreational sex humor
relations recreational sex humor
relations recreational sex humor amusement an aesthetic entertainment
amusement an aesthetic entertainment
amusement an aesthetic entertainment toys stories meditation and intoxication
toys stories meditation and intoxication
toys stories meditation and intoxication in addition however I suggest that our
in addition however I suggest that our
in addition however I suggest that our evolution gave us an anxiety about self
evolution gave us an anxiety about self
evolution gave us an anxiety about self and permanence because it also rewarded
and permanence because it also rewarded
and permanence because it also rewarded the reproductive success of our
the reproductive success of our
the reproductive success of our ancestors by making them susceptible to
ancestors by making them susceptible to
ancestors by making them susceptible to a delusion of legacy in particular
a delusion of legacy in particular
a delusion of legacy in particular legacy through Parenthood as dobzhansky
legacy through Parenthood as dobzhansky
legacy through Parenthood as dobzhansky broke man has a hope perhaps an illusory
broke man has a hope perhaps an illusory
broke man has a hope perhaps an illusory one that he somehow survives in his
one that he somehow survives in his
one that he somehow survives in his descendants a life devoted to one’s
descendants a life devoted to one’s
descendants a life devoted to one’s family and to one’s progeny seems to
family and to one’s progeny seems to
family and to one’s progeny seems to acquire a meaning it may be experienced
acquire a meaning it may be experienced
acquire a meaning it may be experienced as capturing a particle of an
as capturing a particle of an
as capturing a particle of an immortality which is beyond the reach of
immortality which is beyond the reach of
immortality which is beyond the reach of an individual legacy drive in its
an individual legacy drive in its
an individual legacy drive in its rudimental form then is about genes that
rudimental form then is about genes that
rudimental form then is about genes that fooled our ancestors into thinking that
fooled our ancestors into thinking that
fooled our ancestors into thinking that they could leave something of themselves
they could leave something of themselves
they could leave something of themselves ideas beliefs values a copy of the inner
ideas beliefs values a copy of the inner
ideas beliefs values a copy of the inner self or means of a parent transmitted to
self or means of a parent transmitted to
self or means of a parent transmitted to the Future through the minds of one’s
the Future through the minds of one’s
the Future through the minds of one’s offspring as a memetic legacy and
offspring as a memetic legacy and
offspring as a memetic legacy and because genetic legacy
because genetic legacy
because genetic legacy also occurred at the same time genes
also occurred at the same time genes
also occurred at the same time genes that informed legacy drive were
that informed legacy drive were
that informed legacy drive were propelled into future generations other
propelled into future generations other
propelled into future generations other animals have offspring only as an
animals have offspring only as an
animals have offspring only as an incidental consequence of sex drive but
incidental consequence of sex drive but
incidental consequence of sex drive but only humans hope and plan for offspring
only humans hope and plan for offspring
only humans hope and plan for offspring and then spend much of their lives
and then spend much of their lives
and then spend much of their lives seeking pride in them and this obsession
seeking pride in them and this obsession
seeking pride in them and this obsession with pride in offspring can be seen in
with pride in offspring can be seen in
with pride in offspring can be seen in some of the oldest written records but
some of the oldest written records but
some of the oldest written records but men have always had a nagging
men have always had a nagging
men have always had a nagging uncertainty of their paternity as
uncertainty of their paternity as
uncertainty of their paternity as pulitzer prize-winning author Phyllis
pulitzer prize-winning author Phyllis
pulitzer prize-winning author Phyllis McKinley wrote women are the fulfilled
McKinley wrote women are the fulfilled
McKinley wrote women are the fulfilled sex through our children we are able to
sex through our children we are able to
sex through our children we are able to produce our own immortality so we lack
produce our own immortality so we lack
produce our own immortality so we lack that divine restlessness which sends men
that divine restlessness which sends men
that divine restlessness which sends men charging off in pursuit a fortune or
charging off in pursuit a fortune or
charging off in pursuit a fortune or fame worn imagined utopia and so mostly
fame worn imagined utopia and so mostly
fame worn imagined utopia and so mostly men have created alternative domains for
men have created alternative domains for
men have created alternative domains for legacy like pursuits of imagined utopias
legacy like pursuits of imagined utopias
legacy like pursuits of imagined utopias typically represented by religion as
typically represented by religion as
typically represented by religion as philosopher James feeble man wrote the
philosopher James feeble man wrote the
philosopher James feeble man wrote the human individual knows that he must die
human individual knows that he must die
human individual knows that he must die but has thoughts larger than his fate
but has thoughts larger than his fate
but has thoughts larger than his fate religion is an effort to be included in
religion is an effort to be included in
religion is an effort to be included in some domain larger and more permanent
some domain larger and more permanent
some domain larger and more permanent than mere existence in addition men
than mere existence in addition men
than mere existence in addition men mostly men have created alternative
mostly men have created alternative
mostly men have created alternative domains for legacy that involve pursuit
domains for legacy that involve pursuit
domains for legacy that involve pursuit of fortune or fame and cultural
of fortune or fame and cultural
of fortune or fame and cultural evolution informed by biological
evolution informed by biological
evolution informed by biological evolution as generated a large legacy
evolution as generated a large legacy
evolution as generated a large legacy menu to choose from that includes more
menu to choose from that includes more
menu to choose from that includes more than just parenthood and religion but
than just parenthood and religion but
than just parenthood and religion but also accomplishment accomplishment
also accomplishment accomplishment
also accomplishment accomplishment through things like achievement in
through things like achievement in
through things like achievement in education status in a reputable career
education status in a reputable career
education status in a reputable career competition for awards
competition for awards
competition for awards prestige from volunteering mentorship
prestige from volunteering mentorship
prestige from volunteering mentorship and philanthropy recognition for
and philanthropy recognition for
and philanthropy recognition for kindness bravery and other virtues
kindness bravery and other virtues
kindness bravery and other virtues membership or leadership in a social or
membership or leadership in a social or
membership or leadership in a social or cultural group and popularity with
cultural group and popularity with
cultural group and popularity with family friends and associates Darwinian
family friends and associates Darwinian
family friends and associates Darwinian evolution then has shaped the human mind
evolution then has shaped the human mind
evolution then has shaped the human mind with motivations that convinced us that
with motivations that convinced us that
with motivations that convinced us that our lives can have meaning and that
our lives can have meaning and that
our lives can have meaning and that distract us from the nagging worry that
distract us from the nagging worry that
distract us from the nagging worry that they probably don’t the time inevitably
they probably don’t the time inevitably
they probably don’t the time inevitably annihilates all that we do in all that
annihilates all that we do in all that
annihilates all that we do in all that we are legacy and leisure drives our
we are legacy and leisure drives our
we are legacy and leisure drives our components of our evolved psychology
components of our evolved psychology
components of our evolved psychology because our predecessors who lacked them
because our predecessors who lacked them
because our predecessors who lacked them did not become our ancestors because
did not become our ancestors because
did not become our ancestors because they were unprotected from self
they were unprotected from self
they were unprotected from self impermanence anxiety and so less likely
impermanence anxiety and so less likely
impermanence anxiety and so less likely to reproduce and the irony here is that
to reproduce and the irony here is that
to reproduce and the irony here is that Darwinism postulates exactly the
Darwinism postulates exactly the
Darwinism postulates exactly the opposite of what our evolved psychology
opposite of what our evolved psychology
opposite of what our evolved psychology whispers to us about what we can be in
whispers to us about what we can be in
whispers to us about what we can be in what we can do one of the leading
what we can do one of the leading
what we can do one of the leading architects of the modern evolutionary
architects of the modern evolutionary
architects of the modern evolutionary synthesis in the last century Georg
synthesis in the last century Georg
synthesis in the last century Georg Gaylord Simpson wrote man is the result
Gaylord Simpson wrote man is the result
Gaylord Simpson wrote man is the result of a purposeless and materialistic
of a purposeless and materialistic
of a purposeless and materialistic process that did not have him in mind he
process that did not have him in mind he
process that did not have him in mind he was not planned he is a state of matter
was not planned he is a state of matter
was not planned he is a state of matter a form of life again to all of life and
a form of life again to all of life and
a form of life again to all of life and indeed to all that is material and so
indeed to all that is material and so
indeed to all that is material and so the old and still continuing debate
the old and still continuing debate
the old and still continuing debate between evolution and creationism is
between evolution and creationism is
between evolution and creationism is misguided creationism is not in conflict
misguided creationism is not in conflict
misguided creationism is not in conflict with evolution it is product of it and
with evolution it is product of it and
with evolution it is product of it and so the central problem of what we are is
so the central problem of what we are is
so the central problem of what we are is that we are attracted instinctively to
that we are attracted instinctively to
that we are attracted instinctively to delusions and distractions as poet TS
delusions and distractions as poet TS
delusions and distractions as poet TS Eliot mused humankind cannot bear very
Eliot mused humankind cannot bear very
Eliot mused humankind cannot bear very much reality this does not bode well in
much reality this does not bode well in
much reality this does not bode well in terms of our being equipped to respond
terms of our being equipped to respond
terms of our being equipped to respond effectively to a collapsing civilized
our lives resemble the lives of chimps
our lives resemble the lives of chimps more than any other animal they have a
more than any other animal they have a
more than any other animal they have a rudimental theory of mind and a capacity
rudimental theory of mind and a capacity
rudimental theory of mind and a capacity for culture through social learning
for culture through social learning
for culture through social learning across generations but chimps live in a
across generations but chimps live in a
across generations but chimps live in a world as they find it humans however
world as they find it humans however
world as they find it humans however live in a world as they make it and we
live in a world as they make it and we
live in a world as they make it and we have made it mostly a world of delusions
have made it mostly a world of delusions
have made it mostly a world of delusions for chasing legacy and mostly a world of
for chasing legacy and mostly a world of
for chasing legacy and mostly a world of distractions for chasing leisure and
distractions for chasing leisure and
distractions for chasing leisure and this has made a world that is
this has made a world that is
this has made a world that is annihilating other species at a rate
annihilating other species at a rate
annihilating other species at a rate never seen before in the history of life
never seen before in the history of life
never seen before in the history of life and a civilization that is unsustainable
and a civilization that is unsustainable
and a civilization that is unsustainable for our species because we are our
for our species because we are our
for our species because we are our product in part of Darwinian evolution
product in part of Darwinian evolution
product in part of Darwinian evolution our genes to a large extent whole
our genes to a large extent whole
our genes to a large extent whole culture on a leash as evolutionist EO
culture on a leash as evolutionist EO
culture on a leash as evolutionist EO Wilson wrote human behavior like the
Wilson wrote human behavior like the
Wilson wrote human behavior like the deepest capacities for emotional
deepest capacities for emotional
deepest capacities for emotional response which drive and guided is the
response which drive and guided is the
response which drive and guided is the circuitous technique by which human
circuitous technique by which human
circuitous technique by which human genetic material has been and will be
genetic material has been and will be
genetic material has been and will be cut intact these deeply ingrained
cut intact these deeply ingrained
cut intact these deeply ingrained motivations are a product of a long
motivations are a product of a long
motivations are a product of a long history of genetic inheritance driven in
history of genetic inheritance driven in
history of genetic inheritance driven in each ancestral generation by the
each ancestral generation by the
each ancestral generation by the relentless but purposeless action of
relentless but purposeless action of
relentless but purposeless action of Darwinian selection in the past these
Darwinian selection in the past these
Darwinian selection in the past these motivational domains limited our
motivational domains limited our
motivational domains limited our capacity to learn from the history of
capacity to learn from the history of
capacity to learn from the history of our mistakes they loomed large on the
our mistakes they loomed large on the
our mistakes they loomed large on the radar of our ancestors leaving little
radar of our ancestors leaving little
radar of our ancestors leaving little room for a deep understanding of the
room for a deep understanding of the
room for a deep understanding of the impact of humanity on our small planet
impact of humanity on our small planet
impact of humanity on our small planet and essentially no room for significant
and essentially no room for significant
and essentially no room for significant motivations to protect it but our
motivations to protect it but our
motivations to protect it but our evolution has also given us capacity to
evolution has also given us capacity to
evolution has also given us capacity to say no to our evolutionary bequeaths and
say no to our evolutionary bequeaths and
say no to our evolutionary bequeaths and so the good news is that culture can
so the good news is that culture can
so the good news is that culture can also hold genes on a leash if we
also hold genes on a leash if we
also hold genes on a leash if we instruct it wisely with what it needs to
instruct it wisely with what it needs to
instruct it wisely with what it needs to do so I suggest that we can do this by
do so I suggest that we can do this by
do so I suggest that we can do this by something that I call bio social
something that I call bio social
something that I call bio social management
management
management it’s about Rocky
it’s about Rocky
it’s about Rocky and embracing what we are defined by
and embracing what we are defined by
and embracing what we are defined by these four fundamental human drives but
these four fundamental human drives but
these four fundamental human drives but prescribing ways to fulfill them that
prescribing ways to fulfill them that
prescribing ways to fulfill them that also make room on our radar for
also make room on our radar for
also make room on our radar for responding effectively to the impending
responding effectively to the impending
responding effectively to the impending collapse of civilization in other words
collapse of civilization in other words
collapse of civilization in other words cultural evolution could come to our
cultural evolution could come to our
cultural evolution could come to our rescue but there is much work to be done
rescue but there is much work to be done
rescue but there is much work to be done cultural evolution will need to be
cultural evolution will need to be
cultural evolution will need to be better informed with what it needs in
better informed with what it needs in
better informed with what it needs in order to promote the positive
order to promote the positive
order to promote the positive consequences and manage the negative
consequences and manage the negative
consequences and manage the negative consequences of our biological evolution
consequences of our biological evolution
consequences of our biological evolution and this will require having a much
and this will require having a much
and this will require having a much deeper and more broadly public
deeper and more broadly public
deeper and more broadly public understanding of what we are thank you
understanding of what we are thank you
understanding of what we are thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment