,*APT] #b 
,FROM 'SELFI% ,G5ES' TO ,MO!R ',GAIA' 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,MURRAY ,BOOK*9 

,TEXT 3 

,*APT] #b3 ,FROM 'SELFI% G5ES' TO ,MO!R ',GAIA' 

  

,AMONG ! MO/ 9SIDI\S *ALL5GES TO HUMAN UNIQU5ESS TODAY >E TWO SELF-PROCLAIM$ SCI5CES1 BO? ( :I* FIR/ APPE>$ 9 ! MID-#a#i#gS4 ,ONE1 SOCIOBIOLOGY1 IS A =M ( BIOLOGICAL R$UCTIONISM ?AT T5DS TO ASCRIBE HUMAN AG5CY TO \R G5ETIC MAKEUP2 ! O!R IS ! PLANET>Y ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS1 ACCORD+ TO :I* HUMAN BE+S >E '9TELLIG5T FLEAS' ?AT FE$ ON ! PRI/9E BODY (',MO!R ,E>?'4 

,?AT BO? !SE *ALL5GES WE> ! MANTLE ( SCI5CE MAKES !M P>TICUL>LY 9SIDI\S4 ,!ORETICALLY1 ! SCI5TIFIC M&E %\LD PLACE !M AT ODDS ) ! EXPRESSLY ANTI-RATIONAL & ANTISCI5TIFIC BIAS HELD BY MO/ ANTIHUMANI/S1 YET DIEY >E NOT4 ,! READ] :O F9DS ?IS /ATE ( AFFAIRS 9CONSI/5T IS QUITE JU/IFI$4 

,BUT 9TELLECTUAL CONSI/5CY HAS NEV] BE5 A HALLM>K ( ANTIHUMANISM1 /ILL LESS ( MY/ICISM1 NECROMANCY1 & V>I\S =MS ( DEEP ECOLOGY4 ,9 FACT1 BY NO MEANS >E O/5SIBLY SCI5TIFIC ANTIHUMANI/S V]Y F> AP>T FROM !IR ANTI-RATIONAL C\NT]P>TS4 ,EV5 LEGITIMATELY SCI5TIFIC DISCIPL9ES ALL[ = WILD EXTRAPOLATIONS 9TO ! MY/ICAL1 AS WITNESS ! GR[+ NUMB] ( PHYSICI/S :O HAVE REC5DY WRITT5 BOOKS PR(ESS+ TO PROVE MA!MATICALLY ! EXI/5CE ( A DEITY1 A HEAV51 & IMMORTALITY4 ,SCI5CE & PSEUDO-SCI5CE ALIKE BLI!LY DRIFT H&-9-H& 9TO A %>$ MY?OPEIC ANTIHUMANISM4 ,:ILE SOCIOBIOLOGY ESS5TIALLY R$UCES HUMAN 9TELLECTUALITY TO A M]E BYPRODUCT ( 'SELFI% G5ES'1 ! SWEEP+ PLANET>Y VISION ( ! ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS TRIVIALIZES HUMAN BE+S AS M]E P>ASITES ON ! ,E>?4 

,! WORD SOCIOBIOLOGY SEEMS TO HAVE BE5 9V5T$ BY ,E4 ,O4 ,WILSON1 A PR(ESSOR ( SCI5CE AT ,H>V>D ,UNIV]SITY & CURATOR 9 5TOMOLOGY AT ! ,UNIV]SITY'S ,MUSEUM ( ,COMP>ATIVE ,ZOOLOGY4 ,AN 5GAG+ WRIT] ) A SOLID REPUTATION = RESE>* ON 'SOCIAL 9SECTS'1 ,WILSON'S MAGNUM OPUS1 ,SOCIOBIOLOGY3 ,A ,NEW ,SYN!SIS1 WAS ORIG9ALLY PUBLI%$ 9 #a#i#g#e4.<#a#f.> 

,?AT WAS A /RATEGIC YE> 9 ! EVOLUTION ( ! ,AM]ICAN 5VIRONM5TAL MOVEM5T4 ,! WAN+ ,NEW ,LEFT 9 ! EADY #a#i#gS WAS /ILL SUFFICI5TLY 9FLU5TIAL TO EX]CISE A RADICAL 9FLU5CE ON 5VIRONM5TALLY CONC]N$ Y\NG PEOPLE BY FOCUS+ !IR ATT5TION ON ! SOCIAL CAUSES ( ECOLOGICAL DISLOCATIONS4 ,TO ANY ?\<TFUL Y\NG 5VIRONM5TALI/ AT ! TIME1 IT SEEM$ PAT5DY CLE> ?AT A PR(IT-ORI5T$ & COMPETITIVE M>KET SOCIETY WAS PLUND]+ ! PLANET ) ! S]I\S CONSEQU5CES ( WIDESPREAD POLLUTION & ECOLOGICAL DISLOCATION4 

,PRECISELY AS ! ,NEW ,LEFT BEGAN TO WANE1 A C\NT]VAIL+ VIEW APPE>$4 ,A H>%LY ,MAL?USIAN APPROA* T[>D 5VIRONM5TAL PROBLEMS EM]G$1 PR9CIPALLY ADVANC$ BY ,PAUL ,EHRLI* 9 #aifi 9 HIS V]Y WIDELY READ "9"9,! ,POPULATION ,BOMB"94"9.<#a#g.> ,EHRLI* /RID5TLY L9K$ ! CAUSES ( ! 5VIRONM5TAL CRISIS TO POPULATION GR[?1 P>TICULADY 9 ! SO-CALL$ ,?IRD ,WORLD4 ,AN 5TOMOLOGI/-CUM-ECOLOGI/1 LIKE ,WILSON1 ,EHRLI* SIGNIFICANTIY HELP$ TO SIDETRACK 5VIRONM5TAL CONC]N AWAY FROM S]I\S SOCIAL CRITICISM & T[>D ESS5TIALLY BIOLOGICAL ISSUES1 DEAL+ ) POPULATION GR[? AS ?\< PEOPLE W]E ASOCIAL BE+S :O M9DLESSLY PROLIF]AT$ LIKE FRUIT FLIES4 ,9DE$1 F> FROM *ALL5G+ ! EXI/+ SOCIAL ORD]1 ,EHRLI* & HIS 9CREAS+LY NUM]\S ADMIR]S CALL$ UPON ,AM]ICAN GOV]NM5TAL AU?ORITIES TO E/ABLI% A BUREAU ( POPULATION CONTROL -- ALL ! MORE SC&AL\S BECAUSE ! DEM& = SU* A PAT5TLY 9VASIVE BUREAU WAS MADE ( ! ,NIXON ADM9I/RATION4 

,9 ?IS GR[+ CONFLICT BETWE5 ! SOCIALLY CRITICAL T5D5CY 9 ! 5VIRONM5TAL MOVEM5T & ! CRUDELY BIOLOGI/IC ORI5TATION1 ,WILSON'S ,SOCIOBIOLOGY PLAY$ A MAJOR ROLE 9 TILT+ 5VIRONM5TALI/S T[>D ! ASOCIAL & POLITICALLY 9]T ATTITUDES FO/]$ BY ,EHRLI*4 ,WILSON'S WORK1 TO BE SURE1 DID NOT FOCUS ON POPULATION ISSUES1 BUT HE CLE>LY 5HANC$ A N>R[LY BIOLOGI/IC APPROA* T[>D 5VIRONM5TAL PROBLEMS BY R$UC+ HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO ! RE/RICTIVE OP]ATIONS ( G5ETIC SELECTION & EMPHASIZ+ !IR ROLE 9 %AP+ ! HUMAN CONDITION4 ,S9CE #aige HIS VIEWS HAVE 9CREAS+LY S$IM5T$ !MSELVES 9TO ! M9DS ( MANY LIT]ATE PEOPLE1 P>TICUL>LY SCI5TI/S1 & !Y >E BECOM+ ! RECEIV$ WISDOM 9 A WIDE DIV]SITY ( FIELDS1 FROM AN?ROPOLOGY TO SOCIAL !ORY4 

,SOCIOBIOLOGY IS BASICALLY ! !ORY ?AT ANIMAL BEHAVIOR -- & = ! PURPOSES ( \R DISCUSSION1 HUMAN BEHAVIOR -- IS OV]:ELM+LY DET]M9$ BY ! SPECIES' G5ETIC MAKEUP4 ,?IS !ORY IS NOT P>TICUL>LY NEW3 EV] S9CE G5ETICS BECAME RECOGNIZ$ AS A SCI5TIFIC DISCIPL9E1 SOME G5ETICI/S HAVE ALWAYS >D5TLY PRIVILEG$ ! ROLE ( G5ES 9 DET]M9+ HUMAN SOCIAL & M5TAL TRAITS4 

,BUT 9 ! 'NATURE V]SUS NURTURE' DEBATE OV] ! RESPECTIVE ROLES ( 9H]IT$ AS AGA9/ SOCIALLY CONDITION$ TRAITS1 CONTEMPOR>Y SOCIOBIOLOGI/S HAVE ADD$ SEV]AL NEW TWI/S4 ,E4 ,O4 ,WILSON & ,RI*>D ,DAWK9S1 AN ,OX=D ,UNIV]SITY E?OLOGI/1 HAVE IMP>T$ A V]ITABLY METAPHYSICAL QUALITY TO '! G5E'1 5D[+ IT ) EXTRAORD9>Y AUTONOMY1 (T5 AT ! EXP5SE ( ! ORGANISMS IT PRESUMABLY 'CONTROLS'4 

,= ,WILSON AS = ,DAWK9S -- :OSE POPUL> WORK4 ,! ,SELFI% ,G5E1 ALSO APPE>$ 9 #a#i#g#e1.<#a#h.> G5ES >E 5DS 9 !MSELVES MORE ?AN MEANS ?AT CONTRIBUTE TO ! FUNCTION+ ( A GIV5 SPECIES4 ,SPECIES SEEM TO EXI/ MA9LY TO P]PETUATE G5ES1 TO FO/] !IR WELL-BE+ & DEVELOPM5T4 ,SPECIES1 9 EFFECT1 >E PRIM>ILY ! M$IA = G5ETIC EVOLUTION -- A CRUDELY R$UCTIONI/ VIEW ?AT HAS F>-REA*+ IMPLICATIONS = BIOLOGY & E?ICS4 

,CONSID]1 = EXAMPLE1 ,WILSON'S OBS]VATION ON ! OP5+ PAGE (  
,SOCIOBIOLOGY ?AT AN 'ORGANISM DOES NOT ,EVE = ITSELF'1 NOR IS ITS 'PRIM>Y FUNCTION 444 TO REPRODUCE O!R ORGANISMS2 IT REPRODUCES G5ES1 & IT S]VES AS !IR TEMPOR>Y C>RI]'4.<#a#i.> ,:E!R KN[+LY OR NOT1 ,WILSON ESS5TIALLY R$UCES HUMAN BE+S1 ) ALL !IR P]SONALITY TRAITS1 WILLFULNESS1 PASSIONS1 & 9TELLECTUALITY1 TO MOLECUL> UNITS ) AN 9T5TIONALITY ( !IR [N4 ,HIS SWEEP+ CONT5TIONS ADVANCE A N>R[LY BIO*EMICAL & G5ETIC TELEOLOGY ?AT PLACES FULLY DEVELOP$ & COMPLEX ORGANISMS AT ! S]VICE ( SELF-P]PETUAT+ & DEVELOP+ ,D,N,A MOLECULES4 ,9DE$1 9 ONE ( ,WILSON'S PI?I] /ATEM5TS1 AN 'ORGANISM IS  
ONLY ,D,N,A'S WAY ( MAK+ MORE ,D,N,A'4.<#b.> 

,NOR DID ,WILSON MODIFY ?IS SIMPLI/IC VIEW ( ORGANISMS ?REE YE>S LAT] 9 HIS ,PULITZ] PRIZE-W9N+ ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE1.<#b#a.> DESPITE /ORMY DEBATES AB\T ! S\NDNESS & REACTION>Y IMPLICATIONS ( HIS 'SYN!SIS4' ,9 ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE WE LE>N ?AT 'NO SPECIES1 \RS 9CLUD$1 POSSESSES A PURPOSE BEYOND ! IMP]ATIVES CREAT$ BY ITS G5ETIC HI/ORY4 ,SPECIES MAY HAVE VA/ POT5TIAL = MAT]IAL & M5TAL PROGRESS BUT !Y LACK ANY IMMAN5T PURPOSE OR GUIDANCE FROM AG5TS BEYOND !IR IMM$IATE 5VIRONM5T OR EV5 AN EVOLUTION>Y GOAL T[>D :I* !IR MOLECUL> >*ITECTURE AUTOMATICALLY /E]S !M4'.<#b#b.> 

,:AT IS CLE>LY DI/URB+ AB\T !SE PASSAGES IS ?AT ,WILSON'S TELEOLOGICAL BIAS IS SIMPLY CAUSALITY R$UC$ TO ! N>R[ MOLECUL> LEVEL4 ,HE EXHIBITS LITTLE APPRECIATION ( ANY EVOLUTION>Y T5D5CY ?AT IMP>TS VALUE TO SUBJECTIVITY1 9TELLIG5CE1 CREATIVITY1 & E?ICS1 AP>T FROM ! S]VICE !Y P]=M TO ! WELL-BE+ ( G5ES4 ,9DE$1 :]E CULTURAL & SUBJECTIVE ATTRIBUTES EXI/1 !Y >E MA9LY ! WORK ( G5ES1 :I* >E '9T5T'1 AS IT W]E1 ON P]PETUAT+ !IR [N K9D ?R\< BEHAVIORAL TRAITS FAVORABLE TO !MSELVES4 ,5TIRE LEVELS ( ORGANIC DEVELOPM5T >E DISSOLV$ 9TO ,D,N,A1 MU* AS A R$UCTIONI/ 9 PHYSICS MI<T DISSOLVE ALL PH5OM5A 9TO ATOMIC OR SUBATOMIC P>TICLES4 

,) ! TUNNEL VISION *>ACT]I/IC ( SO MANY SOCIOBIOLOGI/S1 ,ROB]T ,WRI<T1 9 ,! ,MORAL ,ANIMAL3 ,! ,NEW ,SCI5CE ( ,EVOLUTION>Y ,PSY*OLOGY 7#a#i#i#d71.<#b#c.> SUGGE/S ?AT COMPASSION1 LOVE1 P>5T+1 & ! LIKE HAVE G5ETIC S\RCES1 SO ?AT E?ICAL BEHAVIOR M]ELY S]VES A G5ETIC SELF-9T]E/ ?AT CANNOT BE GR\ND$ 9 HUMANI/IC PR9CIPLES & S5TIM5TS4 ,US+ ?IS K9D ( REASON+1 ONE MAY CLAIM ?AT !RE >E G5ES = CAPITALISM1 SOCIALISM1 CONS]VATISM1 LIB]ALISM1 RACISM1 SEXISM1 & FASCISM4 

,& IF ONE IS A SOCIOBIOLOGI/1 :Y NOT ASCRIBE SOCIAL =MS TO HUMANITY'S G5ETIC MAKEUP8 ,SOCIETIES & MOVEM5TS ?AT HAVE US$ SOCIOBIOLOGI/IC ASCRIPTIONS 9 !IR IDEOLOGY HAVE 9DE$ EXI/$4 ,BUT BY :AT MAGIC W& DO SOCIOBIOLOGI/S DECIDE ?AT SOME SOCIETIES & IDEAS >E G5ETICALLY DET]M9$ :ILE O!RS >E NOT8 ,H[ TO DET]M9E ! EXT5T TO :I* A SOCIETY OR IDEA IS BIOLOGICALLY (F5SIVE8 ,IS IT BAS$ M]ELY ON ! P]SONAL 9CL9ATIONS ( ! SOCIOBIOLOGI/8 ,= MANY SOCIOBIOLOGI/S1 9 FACT1 ! M]E EXI/5CE ( V>I\S SOCIAL PH5OM5A LIKE CAPITALI/IC EGOISM & SOCIALI/IC ALTRUISM SEEMS TO SUFFICE AS PRO( ?AT \R G5ES >E RESPONSIBLE = !M4 ,9DE$1 9 ,WILSON'S VIEW1  
  

! HUMAN M9D IS CON/RUCT$ 9 A WAY ?AT LOCKS IT 9SIDE ?IS FUNDAM5TAL .<G5ETIC.> CON/RA9T & =CES IT TO MAKE *OICES ) A PURELY BIOLOGICAL 9/RUM5T4 ,IF ! BRA9 EVOLV$ BY NATURAL SELECTION1 EV5 ! CAPACITIES TO SELECT P>TICUL> ES!TIC JUDGM5TS & RELIGI\S BELIEFS MU/ HAVE >IS5 BY ! SAME ME*ANI/IC PROCESS4444 ,! ESS5CE ( ! >GUM5T1 !N1 IS ?AT ! BRA9 EXI/S BECAUSE IT PROMOTES ! SURVIVAL & MULTIPLICATION ( ! G5ES ?AT DIRECT ITS ASSEMBLY 4 ,! HUMAN M9D IS A DEVICE = SURVIVAL & REPRODUCTION1 & REASON IS JU/ ONE ( ITS V>I\S TE*NIQUES4.<#b#d.>  
  

,SELF-EVID5TLY1 ,WILSON IS PLAC+ ! C>T BE=E ! HORSE -- ! AUTONOMY ( ! G5E BE=E ! SEEM+LY HET]ONOM\S ORGANISM IT /E]S SO AUTOMATICALLY4 ,RADICALLY 9V]T+ ,WILSON'S =MULATION1 WE CAN F> MORE PLAUSIBLY CLAIM ?AT G5ES :I* ABET ! 9CREAS+ SOPHI/ICATION ( BRA9 P[] & ! M9D T5D TO FREE A SPECIES1 LIKE HUMANITY1 FROM IRON G5ETIC CON/RA9TS SU* AS SOCIOBIOLOGY W\LD IMPOSE UPON IT4 ,GIV5 SUFFICI5T RATIONALITY 9 HUMAN BE+S1 WE CAN MORE PLAUSIBLY CLAIM ?AT !Y HAVE EVOLV$ A DEGREE ( FREE WILL1 9T5TIONALITY1 SPECULATIVE 9SI<T1 & E?ICAL /&>DS SO ?AT !IR BEHAVIORAL TRAITS >E EFFECTIVELY REMOV$ FROM !IR DEP5D5CE ON ! 'MOLECUL> >*ITECTURE' ?AT IS SUPPOS$ TO 'AUTOMATICALLY /E]' !M4 

,?IS VIEW1 SO EASILY JU/IFI$ BY HUMANITY'S IDEALS1 ASPIRATIONS1 & SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T1 HELPS US TO RECOGNIZE ! FACT ?AT WE HAVE DEVELOP$ AS A SPECIES 9TO A REALM ( SECOND NATURE -- A MORAL1 9TELLECTUAL & SOCIAL REALM ?AT SOCIOBIOLOGY CRUDELY R$UCES TO MOLECULES >RANG$ 9 A D\BLE HELIX4 ,?AT SOCIOBIOLOGI/S >E OBLIG$ TO (F] OBEISANCES TO NONG5]IC FACTORS 9 ACC\NT+ = HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS DUE LESS TO ! FLEXIBILITY ( !IR VIEWS ?AN TO ! UNT5ABILITY ( !IR SIMPLI/IC BIOLOGI/IC PREMISES4 ,= IF !IR PREMISES W]E CONSI/5TLY C>RI$ TO !IR LOGICAL CONCLUSION1 HI<LY ADVANC$ MAMMALS & HUMAN BE+S W\LD 9DE$ BE R$UC$ TO M]E VEHICLES = ,D,N,A ) A METAPHYSICAL AUTONOMY ( ITS [N4 

,WILSON'S ME*ANISM & R$UCTIONISM >E (T5 AS CRUDE AS ,DESC>TES'S MA*9E-LIKE VIEW ( ! BODY1 H[EV] LIB]ALLY HE SPR9KLES HIS PAGES ) CAVEATS1 P]SONAL OP9IONS1 & ASIDES DESIGN$ TO S(T5 ! G5ETIC TUNNEL VISION ( HIS >GUM5T4 ,HIS *EF D'OEUVRE1 ,SOCIOBIOLOGY1 IS RIDDL$ ) BEHAVIORAL CON/RA9TS ?AT RE/ ON G5ETIC PR$ET]M9ATIONS1 9DE$ ) AN?ROPOMORPHIC METAPHORS ?AT SEEM TO IMP>T TO G5ES AN 9TELLECTUALITY & 9T5TIONALITY ?AT PROP]LY BELONG 9 ! REALM ( CULTURE & TO COMPLEX =MS ( SOCIAL LIFE4 

,! FIR/ *APT] ( ,SOCIOBIOLOGY1 = EXAMPLE1 IS 5TITL$ ',! ,MORALITY ( ! ,G5EB A PHRAS+ ?AT BEGUILES ! READ] TO SUPPOSE ?AT G5ES >E NOT ONLY SOV]EIGN 9 DET]M9+ ! BEHAVIOR ( ALL LIFE =MS BUT1 GIV5 ! SIZABLE NUMB] ( AMORAL PEOPLE 9 ! WORLD1 POSSESS A SELF-AW>5ESS BEYOND ?AT ( ! V]Y ANIMALS !Y PRESUMABLY 'CON/RUCT'4 ,?IS GROSSLY UNW>RANT$ PHRASEMAK+1 ,I W\LD HOLD1 IS MORE MISLEAD+ ?AN CL>IFY+4 

,IT IS HI<LY UNLIKELY ?AT HUMAN BE+S C\LD TRANSC5D !IR 'MOLECUL> /RUCTURE' IF1 AS ,WILSON EXPLA9S 9 ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE1 '! .<HUMAN.> 9TELLECT WAS NOT CON/RUCT$ TO UND]/& ATOMS OR EV5 TO UND]/& ITSELF BUT TO PROMO TE ! SURVIVAL ( HUMAN G5ES4'.<#b#e.> ,9 FACT1 ! HUMAN 9TELLECT WAS 'CON/RUCT$' NOT ONLY 'TO UND]/& ITSELF' BUT TO UND]/& ! WORLD & EV5 ! COSMOS UPON :I* IT REFLECTS -- 9DE$ TO CREATE >T1 MUSIC1 LIT]ATURE1 & PHILOSOPHY1 :I* 9 NO WAY S]VE TO P]PETUATE ! EXI/5CE ( ITS 'MOLECUL> /RUCTURE'4 

,! TITLE ( ,RI*>D ,DAWK9S' BOOK1 ,! ,SELFI% ,G5E1 SPEAKS = ITSELF4 ,TO MO/ LIT]ATE PEOPLE1 SELFI%NESS IS A DI/9CTLY PSY*OLOGICAL ORI5TATION1 NOT SIMPLY A METAPHOR = BIOLOGICAL SELF-MA9T5ANCE & SELF-PRES]VATION4 ,NOR IS !RE ANY REASON TO BELIEVE ?AT ,DAWK9S IS US+ ! T]M AS A METAPHOR4 ,! OP5+ PAGES ( ! BOOK DISABUSE US ( ! SUSPICION ?AT ,DAWK9S REG>DS G5ES AS ANY?+ BUT CRASS EGOTI/S4 ',! >GUM5T ( ?IS BOOK IS ?AT WE1 & ALL O!R ANIMALS1 >E MA*9ES CREAT$ BY \R G5ES1' WRITES ,DAWK9S2 '444 ,I %ALL >GUE ?AT A PR$OM9ANT QUALITY TO BE EXPECT$ ( A SUCCESSFUL G5E IS RU?LESS SELFI%NESS4' ,MOREOV]3 ' .<T.>HIS G5E SELFI%NESS WILL USUALLY GIVE RISE TO SELFI%NESS 9  
9DIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR4'.<#b#f.> ,?US MORALITY HAS A SIMPLI/IC ONE-TO-ONE RELATION%IP ) G5IC MORALITY1 ROOT$ 9 MOLECUL> 'SELFI%NESS"9 ?AT ALL[S = NO 9DEP5D5CE ON ! P>T ( LIV+ BE+S4 

,LE/ ?IS DAZZL+ CONCEPT BE LEFT TO /& ON ITS [N PREC>I\S GR\ND1 ,DAWK9S QUICKLY MODIFIES IT4 ',H[EV]1 AS WE %ALL SEE'HE ADDS1 '!RE >E SPECIAL CIRCUM/ANCES 9 :I* A G5E CAN A*IEVE ITS [N SELFI% GOALS BE/ BY FO/]+ A LIMIT$ =M ( ALTRUISM AT ! LEVEL ( 9DIVIDUAL ANIMALS4 0,SPECIAL0 & 0LIMIT$0 >E IMPORTANT WORDS 9 ! LA/ S5T5CE4 ,MU* AS WE MI<T WI% TO BELIEVE O!RWISE1 UNIV]SAL LOVE & ! WELF>E ( ! SPECIES AS A :OLE >E CONCEPTS :I* SIMPLY DO NOT MAKE EVOLUTION>Y S5S$4'.<#b#g.> 

,?IS IS AN EXTRAORD9>Y PASSAGE -- P>TLY BECAUSE ( ! UN/AT$ CONDITIONS IT PRESUPPOSES1 & P>TLY1 TOO1 BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO WORS5 RA!R ?AN MITIGATE ! ,DAWK9S CLAIM ?AT G5IC SELFI%NESS USUALLY GIVES RISE TO HUMAN SELFI%NESS4 ,9 ,DAWK9S' WORLD1 G5ES >E NOT ONLY SELFI% BUT MANIPULATIVE TO BOOT4 ,!Y HAVE SUBTLE WAYS -- !SE DEVILI%LY CLEV] ,D,N,A MOLECULES6 -- ( GETT+ US TO BEHAVE 9 SEEM+LY ALTRUI/IC WAYS1 ON BEHALF ( !IR [N EGOTI/ICAL 5DS4 ,IF ?IS CONCLUSION SEEMS LIKE A DI/ORTION ( ,DAWK9S' VIEWS1 ! READ] :O CONSULTS ,DAWK9S' BOOK IS REGAL$ ) *APT] TITLES LIKE ',! G5E MA*9E'1 ',G5EMAN%IP'1 &1 ( C\RSE1 ! ',IMMORTAL COILS' ( ,D,N,A4 

,I WILL NOT TRY TO SECOND-GUESS ,DAWK9S1 ,WILSON1 OR = ?AT MATT] ANY SOCIOBIOLOGI/S ON :E!R !Y IMPUTE ANY REAL MORALITY1 EMOTIONAL /ATE1 OR 9T5TIONALITY TO G5ES AP>T FROM !IR SPECIFIC BIO*EMICAL FUNCTIONS4 ,IF ! SELFI%NESS ( A G5E IS CAUSALLY RELAT$ TO HUMAN SELFI%NESS1 & A G5E CAN EXHIBIT ! GUILE TO USE 9DIVIDUAL ALTRUISM TO S]VE ITS [N EGOTI/ICAL 5DS1 ,I FAIL TO SEE :AT D\BTS REMA9 AB\T ! AUTONOMY SOCIOBIOLOGI/S IMPUTE TO HUMAN G5IC EQUIPM5T4 

,YET 9 ! CLOS+ PAGES ( A BOOK /RUCTUR$ ALMO/ CONSI/5TLY >\ND A G5OC5TRIC 9T]PRETATION ( ANIMAL BEHAVIOR1 ,DAWK9S SUDD5LY REV]SES HIS 5TIRE ?RU/4 ,MAK+ NO DISC]NIBLE >GUM5T SO F> AS ,I CAN SEE TO SUPPORT HIS CASE1 HE S+LES \T HUMANS TO ADVANCE ! CLAIM ?AT CULTURE CAN 9DE$ SUPPLANT ! AU?ORITY ( G5ETICS OV] A WIDE RANGE ( BEHAVIOR4 ,AFT] SOME TWO HUNDR$ PAGES ( SUPPORT = ! SOV]EIGNTY ( SELFI% G5ES1 ! READ] SUDD5LY LE>NS ?AT ALMO/ 4ALL ( ,DAWK9S' CONT5TIONS CAN BE ANNULL$ BY ! HUMAN SPECIES4 ',>E !RE ANY REASONS = SUPPOS+ \R [N SPECIES TO BE UNIQUE8' HE ASKS4 ,TO :I* HE RESPONDS ) A PR\D 'YES4'.<#b#h.> 

,:AT1 IT MAY BE ASK$1 GIVES US ?IS PRIVILEGE8 ',WE HAVE ! P[] TO DEFY ! SELFI% G5ES ( \R BIR?1' ,DAWK9S RESPONDS1  
  

&1 IF NECESS>Y ' ! SELFI% MEMES .<UNITS ( CULTURAL TRANSMISSION.> ( \R 9DOCTR9ATION 4 ,WE CAN EV5 DISCUSS WAYS ( CULTIVAT+ & NURTUR+ PURE1 DIS9T]E/$ ALTRUISM -- SOME?+ ?AT HAS NO PLACE 9 NATURE1 SOME?+ ?AT HAS NEV] EXI/$ BE=E 9 ! :OLE HI/ORY ( ! WORLD4 ,WE >E BUILT AS G5E MA*9ES & CULTUR$ AS MEME MA*9ES1 BUT WE HAVE ! P[] TO TURN AGA9/ \R CREATORS4 ,WE1 ALONE ON E>?1 CAN REBEL AGA9/ ! TYRANNY ( ! SELFI% REPLICATORS4.<#b#i.>  
  

,DAWK9S' 'MEMES'1 9 FACT1 >E ! CULTURAL ANALOGS ( G5ES1 TRANSF]R$ FROM ! BIOLOGICAL TO ! SOCIAL BY MEANS ( ! SAME NAIVE ATOMISM ?AT *>ACT]IZES ,WILSON'S 'MOLECUL> MA*9]Y'4 ,LIKE G5ES1 MEMES >E MIMETIC REPLICATORS2 !Y DUPLICATE CULTURAL TRAITS BY MEANS ( IMITATION1 JU/ AS G5ES DUPLICATE BIOLOGICAL TRAITS BY MEANS ( SEXUAL REPRODUCTION4 ,ACCORD+LY3 '.<J.>U/ AS G5ES PROPAGATE !MSELVES 9 ! G5E POOL BY LEAP+ FROM BODY TO BODY VIA SP]MS OR EGGS1 SO MEMES PROPAGATE !MSELVES 9 ! MEME POOL BY LEAP+ FROM BRA9 TO BRA9 VIA A PROCESS :I*1 9 A BROAD S5SE1 CAN BE CALL$ IMITATION4'.<#c.> 

,NOT SURPRIS+LY1 GIV5 SOCIOBIOLOGY'S HI<LY DET]M9I/IC WAY ( DUNK+1 !Y TOO HAVE A LIFE ( !IR [N4  
  

,:5 Y\ PLANT A F]TILE MEME 9 MY M9D Y\ LIT]ALLY P>ASITIZE MY BRA91 TURN+ IT 9TO A VEHICLE = ! MEME'S PROPAGATION 9 JU/ ! WAY ?AT A VIRUS MAY P>ASITIZE ! G5ETIC ME*ANISM ( A HO/ CELL 414 ,IMITATION1 9 ! BROAD S5SE1 IS H[ MEMES CAN REPLICAT$4.<#c#a.>  
  

,BUT :AT ( !IR 'COPY+-FIDELITY'8 ,AFT] ALL1 A SONG1 :I* ,DAWK9S REG>DS AS A MEME1 IS ALT]$ EV] SO SLI<TLY EA* TIME IT IS SUNG UNTIL1 P]HAPS1 IT NO LONG] S\NDS LIKE ITS ORIG9AL4 ,H]E1 ,DAWK9S ACKN[L$GES ',I AM ON %AKY GR\ND'4.<#c#b.> ,9DE$1 TAK+ ,DAWK9S' =CEFUL COMP>ISONS ( SELFI% G5ES & SELFI% PEOPLE TOO S]I\SLY CAUSES ! GR\ND B5EA? US TO %AKE4 ,BE=E LONG WE >E CONFUS$ OV] :AT IS METAPHOR & :AT IS NOT 9 ?IS ?OR\<LY CURI\S >GUM5T4 ,9 A GR& F9ALE1 ,DAWK9S TELLS US ?AT 'WE MU/ NOT ?9K ( G5ES AS CONSCI\S1 PURPOSEFUL AG5TS4 ,BL9D NATURAL SELECTION1 H[EV]1 MAKES .<6.> !M BEHAVE RA!R AS IF !Y W]E PURPOSEFUL1 & IT HAS BE5 CONV5I5T1 AS A %OR?&1 TO REF] TO G5ES 9 ! LANGUAGE ( PURPOSE4444 .<,BUT.> ! IDEA ( PURPOSE IS ONLY A METAPHOR1 BUT WE HAVE ALREADY SE5 :AT A FRUITFUL METAPHOR IT IS4'.<#c#c.> ,! SAME1 ,I SUPPOSE1 C\LD BE SAID = MEMES1 :I*1 LIKE G5ES ?AT /RUGGLE ) RIVALS1 COMPETE ) EA* O!R 9 ! 'COMPUT]S' ?AT >E 'HUMAN BRA9S4'.<#c#d.> 

,! ,SELFI% ,G5E1 :I* OP5S ) AN ASSOCIATION BETWE5 G5ETIC SELFI%NESS & HUMAN SELFI%NESS1 CLOSES BY PRODUC+ A C]TA9 V]TIGO -- IT MAY BE A G5O-MIMETIC REACTION -- CAUS$ BY ,DAWK9S' FAILURE TO EXPLA9 :]E HIS METAPHOR 5DS & HIS REALITY BEG9S4 ',G5ES HAVE NO =ESI<T1' HE W>NS US4 ',!Y DO NOT PLAN AHEAD4 ,G5ES JU/ >E1 SOME G5ES MORE SO ?AN O!RS1 & ?AT IS AIL !RE IS TO IT4'.<#c#e.> ,G5ES & MEMES FLOAT 9 ! AIR ) ! SAME /ABILITY ( A KITE 9 A HURRICANE4 ,SU* /IRR+ ACKN[L$GM5TS ( HUMANITY'S UNIQU5ESS >E R>E4 

,:AT WE C]TA9LY LE>N1 EV5 ) ,DAWK9S' MEMES1 IS ?AT CULTURE IS R$UCIBLE TO BIOSOCIAL ATOMS -- CULTURAL P>TICLES1 SO TO SPEAK -- ?AT >E NO LESS R$UCTIONI/ ?AN G5ES4 ,?IS CLOSE ANALOGY BETWE5 CULTURE1 9DE$ ( SOCIETY 9 ITS BROADE/ S5SE1 & G5ES IS AS /IFL+ AS A G5ETIC 9T]PRETATION ( HUMAN BEHAVIOR4 

,?AT ,! ,SELFI% ,G5E PLAYS 9TO ! ANTIHUMANI/ LEVEL+ ( HUMAN BE+S TO ALL BIOTA1 DESPITE ,DAWK9S' PROTE/ATIONS ( HUMAN UNIQU5ESS1 IS SUGGE/$ BY ,ROB]T ,L4 ,TRIV]S' =EWORD TO ! BOOK4 ,TRIV]S1 :O SEEMS TO 5JOY ,DAWK9S' HI<E/ E/EEM1 IS AT PA9S TO 9=M US3  
  

,!RE EXI/S NO OBJECTIVE BASIS ON :I* TO ELEVATE ONE SPECIES ABOVE ANO!R4 ,*IMP & HUMAN1 LIZ>D & FUNGUS1 WE HAVE ALL EVOLV$ OV] SOME ?REE BILLION YE>S BY A PROCESS KN[N AS NATURAL SELECTION4 ,)9 EA* SPECIES SOME 9DIVIDUALS LEAVE MORE SURVIV+ (FSPR+ ?AN O!RS1 SO ?AT ! 9H]ITABLE TRAITS 7G5ES7 ( ! REPRODUCTIVELY SUCCESSFUL BECOME MORE NUM]\S 9 ! NEXT G5]ATION4 ,?IS IS NATURAL SELECTION3 ! NONR&OM DIFF]5TIAL REPRODUCTION ( G5ES 4 ,NATURAL SELECTION HAS BUILT US1 & IT IS NATURAL SELECTION WE MU/ UND]/& IF WE >E TO COMPREH5D \R [N ID5TITIES4.<#c#f.>  
  

,SO MU* = HUMAN UNIQU5ESS -- & MEMES4 ,ANTIHUMANI/S NEV]!LESS BELIE !IR V]Y ACT ( LEVEL+ HUMAN BE+S TO ! SIMPLE/ ORGANISMS BY BURD5+ \R SPECIES ) ! EXTRAORD9>ILY UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITY (1 AS ,TRIV]S PUT IT1 'UND]/&+' SWEEP+ BIOLOGICAL FACTS ,G,B,P IF WE >E TO COMPREH5D \R [N ID5TITIES'4 ,AL?\< HUMANS >E 'OBJECTIVELY' 9T]*ANGEABLE ) *IMPS1 9 ,TRIV]S' VIEW1 ONLY \R SPECIES1 IT W\LD SEEM1 IS COMPET5T TO UND]/& ?AT ALL-5COMPASS+ REALITY OR COMPREH5D ITS [N ID5TITY4 ,*IMPS MAY LACK EV5 A KN[L$GE ( DEA?1 AS REC5T EVID5CE HAS %[N1 LET ALONE A COMPREH5SION ( NATURAL SELECTION4 ,BUT ANTIHUMANI/ PROTOCOL 9SI/S ?AT !RE IS NO OBJECTIVE BASIS = ELEVAT+ HUMANITY OV] ! MO/ ELEVAT$ ( APES 9 ! PRIMATE WORLD4 

,WILSON SEEMS F> LESS EQUIVOCAL ?AN ,DAWK9S AB\T HUMANITY'S 9ABILITY TO TRANSC5D ITS G5ETIC 5SEMBLE ?R\< CULTURE1 EV5 ?R\< MORALITY4 ,HE ASKS3  
  

,CAN ! CULTURAL EVOLUTION ( HI<] E?ICAL VALUES GA9 A DIRECTION & MOM5TUM ( ITS [N & COMPLETELY REPLACE G5ETIC EVOLUTION8 ,I ?9K NOT4 ,! G5ES HOLD CULTURE ON A LEA%4 ,! LEA% IS V]Y LONG1 BUT  
9EVITABLY VALUES WILL BE CON/RA9$ 9 ACCORDANCE IVI? !IR EFFECTS ON ! HUMAN G5E POOL4 ,TLIE BRA9 IS A PRODUCT ( EVOLUTION4 ,HUMAN BEHAVIOR-- LIKE ! DEEPE/ CAPACITIES = EMOTIONAL RESPONSE :I* DRIVE & GUIDE IT -- IS ! CIRCUIT\S TE*NIQUE BY :I* HUMAN G5ETIC MAT5AL HAS BE5 & WILL BE KEPT 9TACT4 ,MORALITY HAS NO O!R DEMON/RABLE ULTIMATE FUNCTION4.<#c#g.>  
  

,IF ,WILSON'S VIEWS >E ULTIMATELY UNEQUIVOCAL1 HE NONE!LESS PEPP]S ! MO/ DOGMATIC PASSAGES 9 HIS BOOK ) HI<LY EQUIVOCAL S5T5CES4 ,TO ! QUE/ION ( :E!R 'HI<] E?ICAL VALUES' -- NOT M]E CU/OMS1 OP9IONS1 OR MORAL 9JUNCTIONS -- CAN TRANSC5D ! GRIP ( G5OC5TIICITY1 ,WILSON RESPONDS ) AN OP9ION1 !N PROCE$S TO GRADUATE HIS OP9ION 9TO A FACT BY ASS]T+ ?AT 'G5ES HOLD CULTURE ON A LEA%'4 ,IT MAY BE A 'LONG LEA%'1 TO BE SURE1 BUT EV5 'HI<] E?ICAL VALUES' 7:I* ,WILSON HAS MUTAT$ 9TO M]E 'VALUES'7 >E '9EVITABLY' CON/RA9$ BY '! HUMAN G5E POOL'4 ,CONCLUSION8 ',MORALITY HAS NO O!R DEMON/RABLE ULTIMATE FUNCTION' ?AN TO KEEP 'HUMAN G5ETIC MAT]IAL' 9TACT4.<#c#h.> ,!SE C>ELESS REM>KS1 TAK5 FROM HIS /RATEGIC *APT]1 ',ALTRUISM'1 9  
,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE1 REVEAL H[ ,WILSON ADVANCES A M]E OP9ION TO SUPPORT LIIS G5OC5TRIC APPROA* -- !N *ANGES ! SUBJECT4 

,9 ! DEBATES ?AT FOLL[$ ! PUBLICATION ( ,SOCIOBIOLOGY1 ,WILSON'S CAPACITY TO M+LE DOGMATIC /ATEM5TS ) EQUIVOCAL ADJECTIVES & SUBCLAUSES1 (T5 %IFT+ ! SCOPE ( HIS >GUM5TS & BACKTRACK+ TO LESS COMMITT$ POSITIONS1 MADE IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SUBJECT ,IRIS VIEWS TO CRITICAL 9T]PRETATION4 ,AJNID/ A FLURRY ( CLAIMS ?AT HIS CRITICS 'MIS9T]PRET$'1 'MALIGN$'1 OR 'MIS/AT$' HIS IDEAS1 ,WILSON MANAG$ TO WE> SO MANY DIFF]5T IDEOLOGICAL HATS ?AT IT WAS (T5 IMPOSSIBLE TO DET]M9E ! HEAD !Y COV]$4 ,WE %ALL SEE ?AT ?IS GAME ( MUSICAL *AIRS IS PLAY$ \T REPEAT$LY 9 SOCIOBIOLOGY & EV5 MORE \TRAGE\SLY 9 O!R ANTIHUMANI/ WORKS4 

,! SUBJECT ( ALTRUISM VEXES SOCIOBIOLOGI/S = OBVI\S REASONS3 ITS EXI/5CE MILITATES AGA9/ ! IMAGE ( SELFI% G5ES 7A T]M ,WILSON ALSO USES AS WELL AS ,DAWK9S7 ?AT O/5SIBLY PRODUCE SELFI% 9DIVIDUALS4 ,9 ?AT CASE1 :Y DO HUMAN BE+S EV] BEHAVE ALTRUI/ICALLY AT ALL8 ,H[ CAN SELFI% G5ES EXPLA9 ! COMMON FACT ?AT PEOPLE EXHIBIT CONC]N = O!RS1 9DE$ = 9DIVIDUALS :OM !Y DO NOT KN[ AS WELL AS !IR IMM$IATE CIRCLE ( FRI5DS8 

,9 NO SMALL P>T1 ! ANSW] TO !SE QUE/IONS DEP5DS UPON H[ WE DEF9E ALTRUISM4 ,WEB/]'S ,?IRD ,9T]NATIONAL ,DICTION>Y CALLS IT 'UNCALCULAT$ CONSID]ATION (1 REG>D =1 OR DEVOTION TO O!RS' 9T]E/S1 SOMETIMES 9 ACCORDANCE ) AN E?ICAL PR9CIPL$ ,?IS REASONABLY BALANC$ DEF9ITION PAT5TLY APPLIES TO ! MAJORITY ( ALTRUI/IC ACTS1 FROM P]SONAL *>ITY TO A COMMITM5T TO SOCIAL IDEALS1 :OSE MEMES >E P]HAPS TOO 9T]TW9$ ) G5ES & O!R MEMES TO BE EXTRICABLE4 

,BY CONTRA/1 SOCIOBIOLOGY'S DEF9ITION ( ALTRUISM IS F> REMOV$ FROM ! BALANC$ & COMMONPLACE4 ,WILSON'S ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE DEF9ES ALTRUISM AS 'SELF-DE/RUCTIVE BEHAVIOR P]=M$ = ! B5EFIT ( O!RS4 ,ALTRUISM MAY BE 5TIRELY RATIONAL1 OR AUTOMATIC & UNCONSCI\S1 OR CONSCI\S BUT GUID$ BY 9NATE EMOTIONAL RESPONSES4' .<#c#i.> ,HIS ELUCIDATION ( ALTRUISM IS ONE ( ! MO/ G5OC5TRICALLY CONVOLUT$ >GUM5TS ,I HAVE 5C\NT]$ 9 ! ANTIHUMANI/IC LIT]ATURE4 

,?US ! *APT] TID$ ',ALTRUISM' OP5S ) AN ALLUSION TO ! AMBIGUITIES ( RELIGI\S M>TYRDOM & ITS HI< E/ATE 9 ,*RI/IAN PRECEPT4 ,IT SEEMS ! ,*UR* F\ND IT DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE AN ELITE ( M>TYRS ) ITS BELIEF 9 ! DEITY'S EGALIT>IAN VIEW ( HUMANITY AS A :OLE4 ,WILSON !REUPON OBLIGES US TO 'DROP TO ALL F\RS'1 AS ,VOLTAIRE ONCE CAU/ICALLY REM>K$ ?AT ! NOBLE SAVAGE' 9 ,R\SSEAU'S WRIT+S 9CL9$ HIM TO DO1 BY %[+ ?AT ALTRUISM USUALLY BECOMES SELFI%NESS4 ,WE SANCTIFY  
TRUE ALTRUISM 9 ORD] TO REW>D IT'1 HE OBS]VES1 & ?US TO MAKE IT LESS ?AN TRUE1 & BY ?AT MEANS TO PROMOTE ITS RECURR5CE 9 O!RS4 ,HUMAN ALTRUISM1 9 %ORT1 IS RIDDL$ TO ITS F\NDATIONS ) ! EXPECT$ MAMMALIAN AMBIVAL5CE' .<#d.> -- A SUFFICI5TLY AMBIGU\S EXPRESSION IF !RE EV] WAS ONE6 

,:E!R REW>D+ TRUE ALTRUISM MAKES IT LESS ?AN TRUE ,I CANNOT SAY4 ,:AT DOES ,WILSON REG>D AS TRUE ALTRUISM8 ,! REALLY AU!NTIC /UFF1 ,I TAKE IT1 IS 'SELF-DE/RUCTIVE BEHAVIOR P]=M$ = ! B5EFIT ( O!RS'1.<#d#a.> AS HIS GLOSS>Y CLAIMS1 AS EXEMPLIFI$ BY ,*RI/IAN M>TYRS4 ,?US1 TRUE ALTRUISM IS DEPICT$ AS A =M ( GRISLY SELF-SACRIFICE -- AS1 = EXAMPLE1 SA9TS BOIL$ 9 OIL BY PAGAN B>B>IANS OR ?R[N TO ,HONS4 

,BUT IS ?IS REALLY TRUE ALTRUISM8 ,M>TYRS TO ,*RI/IANITY OR1 = ?AT MATT]1 ,ISLAM & O!R CRUSAD+ REFIGIONS1 W]E PROBABLY LESS CONC]N$ ) '! B5EFIT ( O!RS' ?AN !Y W]E ) !IR P]SONAL SALVATION & ! REW>DS 79 ! CASE ( ,ISLAM1 V]Y MAT]IAL ONES7 ( A FUTURE LIFE4 

,LE/ WE >E TOO PUZZL$ BY ! PHRASE 'EXPECT$ MAMMALIAN AMBIVAL5CE'1 ,WILSON QUICKLY PLUNGES 9TO PORTRAYALS ( ! MO/ SUPREME K9DS ( TRUE ALTRUISM3 SOLDI]S :O BODILY ?R[ !MSELVES UPON FIVE 5EMY H& GR5ADES TO %IELD !IR COMRADES1 :O RESCUE O!RS FROM BATTIE SITES 'AT ! CO/ ( C]TA9 DEA? TO !MSELVES'1 & O!R SU* FATAL DECISIONS4.<#d#b.> ,V]Y FEW SU* CASES >E ILLU/RATIVE ( 'EXPECT$ MAMMAFIAN AMBIVAL5CE'1 LEA/ ( ALL 9 ATTEMPTS TO 'RESCUE O!RS' 9 BATTLE SITUATIONS ) ! C]TA9TY ( BE+ KILL$4 

,BUT LET US AGREE ?AT PASSION1 A PURE IMPULSE :E!R ( ANG] OR AFFECTION1 CAN 9SPIRE TRUE ALTRUISM1 AS CAN A G5U9E1 SOB] CONC]N = ! WELL-BE+ ( O!R HUMAN BE+S4 ,9 FACT1 ! MO/ SU/A9$ EXAMPLES ( ALTRUISM OCCUR 9 DAILY SOCIAL ,HFE4 ,ALTRUISM IS ALSO F\ND 9 PEOPLE :O 5GAGE 9 /RUGGLES = FRE$OM1 BE !Y ! VOLUNTE]S :O JO9 >MIES TO OPPOSE TYRANNY & SOCIAL PRIVILEGE AT GRAVE RISK TO !IR LIVES1 OR ! REVOLUTION>Y D9AMAT]OS 9 ! ,SPANI% ,CIVIL ,W> ( #a#i#c#f--#c#i :O EXPLOD$ ,FRANCOI/ TANKS ) DYNAMITE /RAPP$ TO !IR [N WAI/S4 ,WE NE$ NOT TURN TO W>F>E TO F9D EXTRAORD9>Y EXAMPLES ( ALTRUISM -- TAKE = EXAMPLE ! CIVIL RI<TS WORK]S :O DROVE 9TO ! ,AM]ICAN ,S\? 9 RACIALLY MIX$ BUSSES & FAC$ >M$ :ITE MOBS1 VICI\S POHEE1 & POHEE DOGS 9 CIVIL RI<TS M>*ES44 

,WILSON TAKES NO NOTE ( SU* COMMONPLACE EXAMPLES ( EV]YDAY ALTRUISM4 ,9DE$1 A REFLECTIVE & ABID+ CONC]N = SOCIAL JU/ICE & FRE$OM IS P]HAPS A TRU] EXPRESSION ( SU/A9$ ALTRUI/IC BEHAVIOR ?AN >E IMPULSIVE ACTIONS1 H]OIC AS !Y MAY BE1 :I* >E ,HKELY TO BE DRIV5 BY ! PASSIONS ( ! MOM5T4 ,IS IT POSSIBLE ?AT SU* EV]YDAY & ABID+ BEHAVIOR REVEALS 'A TRANSC5D5TAL QUAFITY ?AT DI/+UI%ES HUMAN BE+S FROM ANIMALS'1 TO USE ,WILSON'S WORDS8 ,P]HAPS IT DOES1 'TO PUT ! BE/ POSSIBLE CON/RUCTION ON ! MATT]1' ,WILSON G5]\SLY ADVISES US1 BUT HE !N W>NS ?AT 'SCI5TI/S >E NOT ACCU/OM$ TO DECL>+ ANY PH5OM5ON (F LIMITS'.<#d#c.> -- A GRATUIT\S REM>K1 ,I MAY ADD1 S9CE FEW RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE W\LD WANT SCI5TI/S1 LIKE ,WILSON HIMSELF1 TO TAKE REC\RSE TO ! TRANSC5D5TAL AS !Y P]=M !IR WORK4 

,:]EUPON ,WILSON PROCE$S TO SURVEY PRESUMABLY ALTRUI/IC =MS ( ANIMAL BEHAVIOR 7'M9OR' ALTRUISM1 TO BE SURE7 9 ROB9S1 ?RU%ES1 & TITMICE1 :O AL]T ONE ANO!R ?AT A HAWK IS APPROA*+1 BY *ANGES 9 PO/URE 7CR\*+7 OR AC\/ICAL SIGNALS 7:I/L+74 ,IS ?IS ALTRUISM1 OR IS IT SELF-PROTECTION8 ,OR FE>8 ,ALAS1 WE LACK ! ABIFITY TO P5ETRATE 9TO ! M9DS ( ROB9S1 ?RU%ES1 & TITMICE1 BUT ,WILSON SOMEH[ SEEMS TO KN[ ?AT 9/EAD ( ISSU+ A W>N+ TO AL]T O!R BIRDS1 '! CALL] W\LD BE WIS] NOT TO BETRAY ITS PRES5CE BUT RA!R REMA9 SIL5T4'.<#d#d.> 

,ALL[ ME TO SUGGE/ ?AT ATTRIBUT+ ALTRUISM TO BIRDS IS TOO AN?ROPOMORPHIC TO ALL[ = CR$UFITY4 ,IT IS NO LESS AN?ROPOMORPHIC = ,WILSON TO TELL US ?AT 9 ?REE RECORD$ CASES AT ! ,GOMBE ,/REAM ,NATIONAL ,P>K 9 ,TANZANIA1 *IMPANZEES HAVE TAK5 OV] ! C>E ( ! ORPHAN$ 9FANTS ( !IR DECEAS$ SIBF+S4 ,IS ?IS ALTRUISM1 OR IS IT A SIBF+ RECOGNITION ?AT MI<T BE EXPECT$ 9 AN APE ?AT HAS BE5 CALL$ MAN'S CLOSE/ C\S98 

,F> MORE /RIK+1 9 FACT1 IS :AT \R 'CLOSE/ C\S9S' DO NOT DO ?AT HUMAN BE+S DO ) EXTRAORD9>Y FREQU5CY4 ,!Y NEV] %>E FOOD1 EXCEPT = MEAT AFT] A KILL1 :I* IS IDIOSYNCRATIC AT BE/3 IT NORMALLY REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL ( 'BEGG+' & CAJOL+ ON ! P>T ( ! HUNT]'S COMPANION TO GA9 ! MEAT4 ,EQUALLY IMPORTANT1 *IMPANZEES NORMALLY DI/ANCE !MSELVES FROM AN ILL OR 9JUR$ MEMB] ( !IR GR\P & LEAVE !M TO SURVIVE !IR 9FIRMITIES ON !IR [N4 ,!Y EXHIBIT NO KN[L$GE ( DEA?3 :5 !Y CAPTURE PREY1 SU* AS A PIG OR AN 9FANT BABOON1 *IMPANZEES HAVE BE5 KN[N TO LIT]ALLY EAT IT ALIVE1 DESPITE ! VICTIM'S /RUGGLES & CRIES BE=E A VITAL ORGAN ( ITS BODY IS *EW$ AWAY4 

,I AM NOT TRY+ TO *>ACT]IZE *IMPANZEES AS 'CRUEL'1 A VALUE-LAD5 T]M ?AT HAS NO MEAN+ 9 ! NON-HUMAN WORLD4 ,*IMPANZEES >E BUSY BE+ C HIM PANZEES4 ,I AM1 H[EV]1 CRITICIZ+ AN?ROPOMORPHIC PRIMATOLOGI/S = OV]EMPHASIZ+ ! EXT5T TO :I* *IMPANZEES >E LIKE PEOPLE1 SE>*+ \T QUALITIES 9 !M ?AT R5D] !M AFF9ES ( HUMANS1 & ATTRIBUT+ TO !M MORAL RESPONSIBILITIES & COGNITIVE ABILITIES ?AT !Y PROBABLY DO NOT POSSESS4 ,A V]Y CONSID]ABLE AM\NT ( MAT]IAL HAS BE5 PUBLI%$ AB\T *IMPANZEE 'W>S' & 'SACRIFICES' ?AT READS F> TOO MU* HUMAN BEHAVIOR 9TO A SPECIES ?AT IS REMOV$ FROM HUMANS BY MORE ?AN FIVE MILLION YE>S ( EVOLUTION>Y DEVELOPM5T4.<#d#e.> 

,WILSON'S AU?ORITY ON ! M9DLESS WORLD ( G5ETICALLY PROGRAMM$ BUGS IS UNQUE/IONABLE1 AL?\< HIS BEGUIL+ /ORIES AB\T 'KAMIKAZE ATTACKS' BY BEES ON 9TRUD]S & ,AFRICAN T]MITE 'SOLDI]S' :OSE 'CA/E' MEMB]S '>E QUITE LIT]ALLY WALK+ BOMBS' SEEM TOO METAPHORICAL4.<#d#f.> ,EV5 ,WILSON1 ,I %\LD NOTE1 DOES NOT ACCEPT AN EQUIVAL5CE BETWE5 ! BEHAVIOR ( 9SECTS & ?AT ( HUMAN BE+S2 9DE$1 HE PRUD5TLY W>NS ?AT '%>+ ! CAPACITY = EXTREME SACRIFICE DOES NOT MEAN ?AT ! HUMAN M9D & ! 0M9D0 ( AN 9SECT 7IF SU* EXI/S7 WORK ALIKE4'.<#d#g.> 

,BUT ,WILSON'S PO9T IS ?AT 9ASMU* AS KAMIKAZE BEES & SOLDI] T]MITES1 LIKE ALL CREATURES CAPABLE ( MAK+ ! 'EXTREME SACRIFICE' = ! COMMON GOOD1 SY/EMATICALLY4 SELF-DE/RUCT & H5CE DO NOT PASS ON !IR [N G5ES TO O!RS1 !SE 'SELF-SACRIFIC+' OR 'ALTRUI/IC' BUGS MAKE IT POSSIBLE = !IR 'MORE F]TILE BRO!RS & SI/]S TO FL\RI%'4 ,9 FACT1 !RE >E TWO K9DS ( G5ES AMONG ! MANY ?AT CONTROL 9SECT BEHAVIOR3 'SELFI% G5ES' & 'ALTRUI/IC G5ES'4.<#d#h.> ,& IF WE >E TO ACCEPT ! TIDE ( ,*RI/OPH] ,WILL'S REC5T BOOK ON G5ETICS1 !RE >E 'WISE G5ES' AS WELL4.<#d#i.> 

,BUT H[ CAN SELF-DE/RUCTIVE ALTRUI/IC G5ES EV] SURVIVE ! H>% IMP]ATIVES ( NATURAL SELECTION :5 !Y EXI/ 9 'COMPETITION' ) ! SELF-P]PETUAT+ SELFI% G5ES8 ,WILSON 9VOKES 'K9 SELECTION' TO MEET ?IS *ALL5GE3 ?AT IS1 G5ETICALLY GOV]N$ BEHAVIOR BY :I* 9DIVIDUALS SAC RIFI CE !MSELVES TO 5HANCE ! SURVIVAL ( !IR K91 :O POSSESS ALTRUI/IC AS WELL AS SELFI% G5ES4 ,& ) K9 SELECTION AT H&1 ,WILSON N[ FEELS ?AT IT IS 'NATURAL1 !N1 TO ASK :E!R ?R\< K9 SELECTION ! CAPACITY = ALTRUISM HAS ALSO EVOLV$ 9 HUMAN BE+S'4.<#e.> 

,WILSON'S RESPONSE1 ( C\RSE1 IS AN UNQUALIFI$ YES4 ,AMONG HUMANS1 HE ALL[S1 '! =M & 9T5SITY ( ALTRUI/IC ACTS >E TO A L>GE EXT5T CULTURALLY DET]M9$'4 ,ACTUALLY1 !Y W\LD SEEM TO BE 'CULTURALLY DET]M9$' TO AN IMM5SE EXT5T1 OR AS ,WILSON PUTS IT3 ',HUMAN SOCIAL EVOLUTION IS OBVI\SLY MORE CULTURAL ?AN G5ETIC4 ' ,TO ONE :O HAS READ SO F> 9 ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE1 CULTURE'S P[] OV] G5ETIC IMP]ATIVES W\LD NOT AT ALL BE 'OBVI\S'1 &1 9 FACT1 LE/ WE TAKE ,WILSON'S FLEET+ EMPHASIS ON CULTURE TOO S]I\SLY1 WE LEAM ?AT '! UND]LY+ EMOTION1 P[]FULLY MANIFE/$ 9 VIRTUALLY ALL HUMAN SOCIETIES1 IS :AT IS CONSID]$ TO EVOLVE ?R\< G5ES'4.<#e#a.> 

,:AT IS VEX+ AB\T ?IS PASSAGE1 ALL ITS BACKTRACK+ ASIDE1 IS ?AT HUMAN ALTRUISM1 CONCEIV$ AS A CONC]N = O!R PEOPLE & ! HUMAN CONDITION G5]ALLY1 IS BY NO MEANS R$UCIBLE TO ! UND]LY+ EMOTIONS ?AT >E CONSID]$ TO EVOLVE ?R\< G5ES4 ,9DE$1 9NUM]ABLE ?9K]S & MANY REVOLUTION>Y SOCIAL MOVEM5TS 9 ! PA/ W]E GUID$ NOT BY K9 SELECTION BUT BY GREAT IDEALS1 BE !Y ',LIFE1 ,LIB]TY1 & ! ,PURSUIT ( ,HAPP9ESS' OR ',LIB]TY1 ,EQUALITY1 & ,FRAT]NITY'4 ,= PR(\NDLY CULTURAL REASONS !Y EVOK$ /RONG PASSIONS 9 MANY IDEALI/S & PRODUC$ PASSIONATE SOCIAL UPHEAVALS1 GUID$ BY GREAT IDEAS ?AT HAD NO EVID5T ASSOCIATION ) G5ES OR MEMES4 ,YES -- HUMAN G5ETIC EQUIPM5T WAS 9VOLV$ 9 ! EM]G5CE ( PASSIONS1 AS W]E HORMONES LIKE EP9EPHR9E4 ,BUT ! EVOLUTION ( !SE PASSIONS1 !IR SOPHI/ICATION1 & ! EXT5T TO :I* !Y P[]$ IDEAS ROOT$ 9 9TELLECTION W]E TOO EVID5TLY CULTURAL TO R$UCE TO G5ETIC 9FLU5CES4 

,:AT IS FUNDAM5TALLY WRONG ) ,WILSON'S G5OC5TRITY IS ?AT CONCEPTS SU* AS 'SELFI%NESS' & 'ALTRUISM' PRESUPPOSE ! EXI/5CE ( A CULTURE ?AT GIVES !M MEAN+ & A MORALITY ?AT EXPLA9S :Y PRIMORDIAL 'UND]LY+ EMOTIONS' CAN BE ACTIVE 9 SOCIAL CAUSES4 ,IF ONE R$UCES SOCIETY FROM A HUMAN PH5OM5ON TO M]E AGGREGATIONS ( LIV+ ?+S -- NOT ONLY ORGANISMS BUT G5ES & MEMES -- CULTURE IS 9CONCEIVABLE4 ,WE W\LD HAVE A COLLECTION ( LIV+ BE+S1 BUT NOT A SOCIETY ORGANIZ$ 9TO MUTABLE 9/ITUTIONS4 

,SOCIOBIOLOGY1 ) ITS ATOMIZ$ G5ES & MEMES1 PAT5TLY DEALS ) COLLECTIONS1 AGGREGATIONS1 & HEAPS ( ORGANISMS RA!R ?AN ) AU!NTIC SOCIETIES *>ACT]IZ$ BY A RADICALLY DIFF]5T LEVEL ( ASSOCIATION & ORGANIZATION ( SUP]FICIALLY DISCRETE BE+S -- SPECIFICALLY1 HUMAN BE+S4 ,HUMAN BE+S EXI/ 9 RELATION%IPS ) EA* O!R ?AT >E NOT DEF9$ BY G5ES ALONE1 IF AT ALL4 ,9 ?IS RESPECT1 SOCIOBIOLOGY IS NOT SOCIAL AT ALL4 ,IT DEALS ) BIOLOGY1 SPECIFICALLY ) G5ETICS1 & GIVES !M A SOCIAL PAT9A1 G5]ALLY BY US+ ANTIIROPOMORPHIC METAPHORS4 ,IT DESCRIBES G5ES NOT ONLY AS 0SELFI%' BUT AS 'ALTRUI/IC' & EV5 AS 'WISE'4 ,GIV5 ?IS LUXURI\S MORAL LIFE ( G5ES1 IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE ?AT WE >E MOTE ?AN M]E 'G5ETIC MA*9ES'1 & YET WE PLA9LY >E1 JU/ AS WE >E NOT SIMPLY ATOMS1 ELECTRONS1 OR PROTONS4 

,9ASMU* AS G5ES DET]M9E HUMAN DEVELOPM5T1 AGGRESSION1 SEXUAL BEHAVIOR1 ALTRUISM1 & RELIGION1 TO CITE ! PR9CIPAL CONC]NS ( ,ON ,HUMAN ,NATURE1 H[ >E MOD]N HUMANS TO COPE ) A G5ETIC 5SEMBLE ?AT EVOLV$ :5 HUMAN BE+S1 ACCORD+ TO ,WILSON1 W]E ',ICE-,AGE HUNT]-GA!R]S'8 ,H[ CAN WE READJU/ \R GLACIAL G5ES TO DEAL ) ! ]A ( ! 9=MATION SUP]HI<WAY8 ,! ANSW]1 ,WILSON TELLS US1 IS AN EX]CISE ( WILL'4.<#e#b.> ,:]E WILL ?IS 'WILL' COME FROM8 ,P]HAPS IT WILL COME FROM A G5E ?AT MAKES = OBDURACY1 9T5TIONALITY1 PURPOSE1 & :O KN[S :AT O!R WILLFUL *>ACT] TRAITS ?AT LURK 9 ! HUMAN G5OME1 NOT TO SPEAK ( ONE ?AT WILL EVOLVE4 ,IF EVOLUTION>Y G5ETICS PLACES A HI< PREMIUM ON ADAPTATION1 AS DO ALL !ORIES ( NATURAL SELECTION ON :I* ,WILSON RELIES1 ! G5ETIC S\RCES ( WILL MAY BE UNC]TA9 9DE$4 

,BUT BY :AT RI<T CAN ,WILSON CLAIM ?AT ! HUMAN G5ETIC 5SEMBLE WAS %AP$ BY ,ICE-,AGE HUNT]-GA!R]S :5 A SUB/ANTIAL PROPORTION ( ,HOMO SAPI5S SAPI5S NEV] LEFT ! W>M CLIMATE ( ,AFIICA 9 :I* !Y EVOLV$8 ,9DE$1 !Y MAY NEV] HAVE 5C\NT]$ ! GLACIATION ?AT COV]$ MU* ( ! NOR!RN HEMISPH]E ?R\< ! ,PLEI/OC5E4 ,AMUS+LY1 ,WILSON'S !ORY MI<T BE MI/AK5LY SE5 AS A RISIBLE CONV]SE ( ?AT ( ,PR(ESSOR ,LEON>D ,JEFFRIES ( ! ,CITY ,COLLEGE ( ,NEW ,YORK1 ! *AIRMAN ( ! S*OOL'S ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN /UDIES PROGRAM1 :O HAS GA9$ CONSID]ABLE NOTORIETY = EMPHASIZ+ ?AT BLACKS1 EVOLV+ 9 SUNNY CLIMATES1 HAVE '%9Y G5ES' BY COMP>ISON ) ! 'DULL G5ES' ( :ITE 'ICE PEOPLE'1 APP>5TLY R5D]+ ,AFRICANS 9NATELY SUP]IOR TO ,EUROPEANS4 

,SU* G5ETIC P+-PONG W\LD BE SILLY W]E IT NOT R$OL5T ( REACTION>Y IDEOLOGIES ?AT AX LESS SOPHI/ICAT$ ?AN MOD]N SOCIOBIOLOGY4 ,NE$LESS TO SAY1 AN ANIMAL'S G5ETIC MAKE-UP PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE 9 GUID+ ITS BEHAVIOR4 ,! SIMPL] ! LIFE-=M1 ! MORE ?OR\<LY G5ES DET]M9E ITS ACTIONS & ! MORE LIMIT$ IS ITS G5ETIC REP]TOIRE4 

,SOCIOBIOLOGI/S >E AT !IR WOR/ :5 !Y TRY TO DEAL ) SOCIAL PH5OM5A4 ,9 ,WILSON'S GLOSS>Y1 ! DEF9ITIONS -- & !IR IMPLICATIONS -- ( WORDS LIKE SOCIETY1 HI]>*Y'1 DOM9ANCE1 AGGREGATION1 B&1 CA/E1 COMMUNAL1 & COMPETITION1 REVEAL HIS ORI5TATION T[>D SOCIAL /RUCTURES & E?ICAL PH5OM5A4 ,:]E !SE CONCEPTS HAVE CLE>LY SOCIAL PREMISES1 ,WILSON T5DS TO RE/RICT !M TO N>R[ BIOLOGICAL DEF9ITIONS1 9 A R$UCTION ( SOCIAL PH5OM5A TO G5ETICS ?AT OBSCURES ! DISCONT9UITIES AS WELL AS ! CONT9UITIES BETWE5 BIOLOGY & SOCIETY4 

,CONSID]1 = EXAMPLE1 ,WILSON'S DEF9ITION ( SOCIETY1 :I* HE DESCRIBES AS 'A GR\P ( 9DIVIDUALS BELONG+ TO ! SAME SPECIES & ORGANIZ$ 9 A COOP]ATIVE MANN]4'.<#e#c.> ,ONLY A DEV\T ACOLYTE W\LD FFIL TO REQUIRE ,WILSON TO EXPLA9 :AT HE MEANS BY ORGANIZ$ & COOP]ATIVE1 TWO CULTURALLY1 PHILOSOPHICALLY1 & E?ICALLY LAD5 WORDS ?AT HAVE F>-REA*+ IMPLICATIONS 9 SOCIAL !ORY4 ,DIFF]5T SOCIETIES HAVE BE5 ORGANIZ$ & COOP]ATIVE 9 V]Y DIFF]5T WAYS -- AS DESPOTISMS1 DEMOCRACIES1 REPUBLICS1 MON>*IES1 PATRI>*IES1 & ! LIKE4 ,NO:]E DOES ,WILSON TELL US :AT K9D ( COOP]ATION & ORGANIZATION HE MEANS4 ,:AT W\LD SEEM TO C\NT1 9 HIS DEF9ITION1 IS :E!R A SOCIETY'S =M ( COOP]ATION & ORGANIZATION MAKE IT G5ETICALLY FIT TO SURVIVE ! *ALL5GES ( NATURAL SELECTION4 

,ALL ( ,WILSON'S EFFUSIONS AB\T HIS LIB]AL BELIEFS TO ! CONTR>Y1 SOCIO-BIOLOGICAL ?9K+ IS CRUDE4 ,YET GIV5 ! 9CREAS+ FASC9ATION ( S*OL>S & ! PUBLIC ) G5ETICS !SE DAYS1 SOCIOBIOLOGY IS MAK+ ITS WAY 9TO MANY SOCIAL DISCIPL9ES ?AT W]E ONCE DI/+UI%$ = A RELATIVE DEGREE ( SOBRIETY4 ,TO CITE ONLY ONE ( MANY EXAMPLES3 A REC5T ISSUE ( ,CURR5T ,AN?ROPOLOGY1 A HI<LY REPUTABLE S*OL>LY QU>T]LY1 CONTA9S A DISCUSSION >TICLE 5TITL$ ',ON ,HUMAN ,EGALIT>IANISM'1 9 :I* ! AU?ORS1 PUZZL$ BY ! VIRTUAL UBIQUITY ( EGALIT>IAN VALUES & 9/ITUTIONS AMONG HUNT]--GA!R]S1 ASSUME ?AT ! 'ANCE/ORS (  
,H4 SAPI5S' W]E 9NATELY 'HI]>*ICALLY ORI5T$'1 & ?AT 'CULTURAL ELABORATIONS ( FOOD %>+1 PAIR BOND+1 & EGALIT>IANISM .<>E GR\ND$.> 9 9H]IT$ T5D5CIES'1 9 NATURAL SELECTION RA!R ?AN CONSCI\SNESS4.<#e#d.> ,SO WIDESPREAD IS SOCIOBIOLOGY TODAY ?AT WE >E N[ TOLD ?AT APP>5TLY !RE >E G5ES = HI]>*Y & DOM9ATION ON ! ONE H& & G5ES = EGALIT>IANISM & FOOD %>+ ON ! O!R4 ,P]HAPS ONE SET ( G5ES IS DOM9ANT & ! O!R IS RECESSIVE1 OR P]HAPS DOM9ANCE DEP5DS UPON ! ADAPTIVE ADVANTAGES ! G5ES CONF] 9 NATURAL SELECTION4 ,:E!R CONSCI\SLY OR NOT1 ! PROPON5TS ( SU* SOCIOBIOLOGICAL 9T]PRETATIONS -- & !Y >E GR[+ /EADILY 9 NUMB] -- DIM9I% ! ROLE ( E?ICS & SOCIAL RELATIONS 9 DET]M9+ HUMAN BEHAVIOR & SOCIAL DEVELOPM5T4 

,HI]>*Y IS 9 FACT A SOCIAL T]M -- HI]>*IES >E F\ND NO:]E 9 FIR/ NATURE4 ,A HI]>*Y IS BAS$ ON DOM9ATION BY 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ /RATA1 SU* AS G]ONTOCRACIES1 PATRI>*IES1 W>RIOR SODALITIES1 %AMANI/IC GUILDS1 PRIESDY CORPORATIONS1 & ! LIKE OV] SUBJUGAT$ /RATA :O >E VISIBLY UND]PRIVILEG$ ON AN ONGO+ BASIS4 ,TO DISSOLVE HI]>*IES 9TO ! P]SON ( AN ALPHA *IMPANZEE1 GORILLA1 OR BABOON1 AS SO MANY PRIMATOLOGI/S DO1 IS TO MAKE A MOCK]Y ( A T]M :I* HAS ITS ORIG9S 9 PYRAMIDAL ECCLESIA/ICAL /RUCTURES4 ,A HI]>* GOES ) AN 9/ITUTION SU* AS A MON>*Y1 BUREAUCRACY1 OR EV5 A /ABLE PATRI>*AL FAMILY RELATION%IPS ?AT >E NOT 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ 9 ! ANIMAL WORLD4 

,PROTE/S BY SOCIOBIOLOGI/S TO ! CONTR>Y NOT)/&+1 !Y EV5TUALLY DO R$UCE HUMAN BE+S TO 'G5E MA*9ES 1 & BY EXTRAPOLATION1 !Y DEAL ) SOCIETY1 M9D1 & GREAT SOCIAL IDEALS FROM A PREPOND]ANTLY G5OC5TRIC VIEWPO9T4 ,WE DO NOT HAVE TO TURN TO ,MAX ,WEB] TO LAM5T ! 'DIS5*ANTM5T ( ! WODD'2 IT IS V]Y MU* UND] WAY BECAUSE ( ! G5ETIC NOOSE SODOBIOLOGY IS TI<T5+ OV] HUMANITY & ITS GREATE/ 5DEAVORS4 

,BE=E LEAV+ ! REALM ( ! G5ETIC1 LET US EXAM9E ! SO-CALL$ 'MICROCOSMOS' ITSELF1 AS SE5 ?R\< !4 EYES ( TWO ANTIHUMANI/S :O DISMISS HUMAN BE+S & !IR A*IEVEM5TS AS M]E BYPRODUCTS ( BACT]IA & CELLS4 

,?IS !SIS HAS BE5 /RONGLY PROMOT$ BY ,LYNN ,M>GULIS1 PR(ESSOR ( BIOLOGY AT ,BO/ON ,UNIV]SITY1 :O1 9 A BOOK 5TID$  
,MICROCOSMOS3 ,F\R ,BILLION ,YE>S ( ,MICROBIAL ,EVOLUTION WRITT5 9 COLLABORATION ) ,DOTION ,SAGAN1 REALLY PUTS HUMANITY 9 ITS TRIVIAL PLACE4.<#e#e.> ,9DE$1 ! REAL WOND]S ( BIOTIC EVOLUTION1 ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN >GUE1 >E ! MICROORGANISMS ?AT HAVE BE5 ON ! E>? = FIVE-SIX?S ( ORGANIC EVOLUTION1 9 CONTRA/ TO HUM AN S1 :O HAVE BE5 >\ND = ONLY ONE ?IRTIE? ( #a P] C5T ( ?AT TIME4 ,BACT]IA HOLD FIR/ PLACE 9 ! DRAMA ( LIFE -- :]EAS WE HUMANS >E 'A SORT ( MAMMALIAN WE$1 ) ALL \R ACCOMPH%M5TS & P]SONALITY WE >E /ILL ! RESULT ( EONS ( MICROBIAL EVOLUTION'.<#e#f.> -- :I* PRESUMABLY PUTS US 9 \R PLACE4 

,PRECISELY :Y ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN SELECT$ MICROBES OV] ! MORE BASIC & OLD] *EMICALS ?AT MAKE UP LIFE IS PUZZL+4 ,C>BON1 SO 9DISP5SABLE TO ! =MATION1 SU/5ANCE1 & EVOLUTION ( ORGANIC ?+S HAS BE5 9 ! UNIV]SE = MANY BILLIONS ( YE>S1 MU* CLOS] TO TWELVE BILLION ?AN TO A MEASLY F\R OR FIVE4 ,C]TA9LY HYDROG51 NO LESS IMPORTANT ?AN C>BON1 HAS BE5 >\ND EV5 LONG]4 ,AMMO ACIDS HAVE BE5 >\ND = SO LONG ?AT A FIGURE AS SMALL AS F\R BILLION H>DLY DOES JU/ICE TO !IR LONGEVITY4 ,>E !Y LESS IMPORTANT TO LIFE ?AN MICROBES >E TO REC5DY >RIV$ HUMANS8 

,?IS NUMB]S GAME RE/S ON ! OMNIPRES5T FALLACY ( MI/AK+ A NECESS>Y CONDITION = ADVANC$ LIFE-=MS = !IR SUFFICI5T CONDITION4 ,!RE IS NO?+ /UNN+LY NEW 9 ! FACT ?AT CELLS ( ONE K9D OR ANO!R >E NE$$ TO PRODUCE MULTICELLUL> LIFE-=MS4 ,NOR IS !RE ANY?+ /UNN+LY NEW 9 ! FACT ?AT MICROBES ( A VA/ V>IETY & 9 /AGG]+ NUMB]S >E NECESS>Y TO R5D] COMPLEX MULTICELLUL> LIFE-=MS FUNCTIONAL4 ,YES1 ! E>? W\LD BE COV]$ ) NO?+ BUT DEBRIS IF WA/ES W]E NOT BROK5 D[N1 RECREAT$1 & REWORK$ BY MICROBES1 JU/ AS IT W\LD BE V]Y MESSY 9DE$ WIDI\T TRILLIONS ( ANTS TO REPROCESS DETRITUS 9TO =MS USABLE TO ANTS & O!R LIFE-=MS4 

,ONE MAY REASONABLY WOND]1 TO BE SURE1 H[ MU* ( A MESS W\LD EXI/ 9 ! FIR/ PLACE IF COMPLEX ANIMALS W]E NOT PRES5T TO PRODUCE IT4 ,EV5 MORE TR\BL+1 :Y W\LD MICROBES BE ( ANY 9T]E/ AT ALL IF !Y DID NOT PRODUCE1 FACILITATE1 & HELP -- AS WELL AS 9JURE ?R\< DISEASE -- COMPLEX LIFE-=MS ?AT 5GAGE 9 A GOOD DEAL MORE ?AN ! BIO*EMICAL & REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY ( MICROBES -- SU* AS ?9K+1 = EXAMPLE8 OR EXHIBIT+ ACUTE SELF-CONSCI\SNESS8 OR KN[+ ! WORLD1 OR  
EXPLOR+ IT1 OR EX]CIS+ WILL8 

,:5 MICROBES CAN DO !SE EXCEPTIONAL ?+S1 !Y MAY 9DE$ BE CONSID]$ ! M>VELS ( LIFE4 ,YET ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN SEEM TO GIVE PRIMACY TO MICROBES L>GELY BECAUSE !Y >E 9DISP5SABLE TO ! DEVELOPM5T & EXI/5CE ( SU* BIOTA AS MAMMALS1 PRIMATES1 & ( C\RSE1 HUMAN BE+S4 ,9DE$1 AS ONE *APT] ( !IR BOOK BREA?LESSLY FOLL[S ANO!R1 DESCRIB+ H[ DUR+ DRAMATIC 5VIRONM5TAL *ANGES ORGANIC MOLECULES COMB9E TO PRODUCE CELL MEMBRANES1 ,D,N,A1 ,R,N,A1 ANA]OBIC CELLS1 & A]OBIC ONES1 WE >E ALWAYS REM9D$ ?AT HUMAN BE+S >E DEP5D5T UPON MICROCOSMS & !IR ABILITY TO SURVIVE HUMAN DEPR$ATIONS4 

,?US WE AX TOLD ) MU* APLOMB ?AT '! VISIBLE WORLD IS A LATE->RIV+1 OV]GR[N PORTION ( ! MICROCOSM1 & IT FUNCTIONS ONLY BECAUSE ( ITS WELL-DEVELOP$ CONNECTION ) ! MICROCOSM'S ACTIVITIES4444 ,GRASP+ AS BE/ WE CAN ! =MIDABLE P[]S ( ! BIOSPH]E 9 :I* WE LIVE \T \R LIVES1 IT IS DIFFICULT TO RETA9 ! DELUSION ?AT )\T \R HELP NATURE IS HELPLESS4444 ,WE MAY POLLUTE ! AIR & WAT]S = \R GR&*ILDR5 & HA/5 \R [N DEMISE1 BUT ?IS WILL EX]T NO EFFECT ON ! CONT9UATION ( ! MICROCOSM' :I*1 9 FACT1 'IS /ILL EVOLV+ >\ND US & )9 US4 ,Y\ C\LD EV5 SAY 444 ?AT ! MICROCOSM IS EVOLV+ AS US4'.<#e#g.> 

,IT IS A NOVELTY TO LE>N ?AT MANY PEOPLE !SE DAYS H>BOR ! 'DELUSION ?AT )\T \R HELP NATURE IS HELPLESS'4 ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN 5GAGE 9 ! USUAL OV]/ATEM5T ( HUMANI/IC VIEWS ALL ! MORE EASILY TO DEMOLI% !M4 ,IT IS NO LESS A NOVELTY TO LE>N WE1 LIKE ALL MULTICELLUL> LIFE-=MS FROM JELLYFI% TO WOLVES1 >E SIMPLY AN 'OV]GR[N PORTION ( ! MICROCOSM'4 ,?AT WE CANNOT FUNCTION )\T MICROCOSMS IS A TRITE BIOLOGICAL FACT2 !IR ACTIVITIES 9 MA9TA9+ ! E>?1 ! BIOSPH]E1 & EV5 \R DIGE/ION ( FOOD >E WELL-KN[N FACTS ( P>AM\NT IMPORTANCE4 ,BUT :Y NOT 9CLUDE ALL ! *EMICAL ELEM5TS ?AT MAKE UP \R G5ES & PROTOPLASM8 

,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN SEEM TO CONFUSE '9=MATION' ) WISDOM1 9TELLIG5CE1 & 9NOVATION4 ,WE >E TOLD3  
  

,= %E] SCOPE1 HUMAN 9=MATION SY/EMS HAVE ONLY ,JU/ BEGUN TO APPROA* ! ANCI5T BACT]IAL SY/EMS :I* HAVE BE5 TRAD+ BITS ( 9=MATION LIKE A COMPUT] NETWORK ) A MEMORY ACCUMULAT$ OV] BILLIONS ( YE>S ( CONT9U\S OP]ATION4 ,AS WE MOVE FROM A PURELY M$ICAL VIEW ( MICROBES TO AN UND]/&+ ( !M AS \R ANCE/ORS1 AS PLANET>Y ELD]S .<6.>1 \R EMOTIONS ALSO *ANGE1 FROM FE> & LOA?+ TO RESPECT & AWE4 ,BACT]IA 9V5T$ .<6.> F]M5TATION1 ! :EEL 9 ! =M ( ! PROTON ROT>Y MOTOR1 SULFUR BREA?+1 PHOTOSYN!SIS1 & NITROG5 FIXATION1 LONG BE=E \R EVOLUTION4 ,!Y >E NOT ONLY HI<LY SOCIAL BE+S1 BUT BEHAVE AS A SORT ( WORLDWIDE DEC5TRALIZ$ DEMOCRACY1 ,CELB BASICALLY REMA9 SEP>ATE1 BUT CAN CONNECT & TRADE G5ES ) ORGANISMS ( EV5 EXCE$+LY DIFF]5T BACKGR\NDS4 ,REALIZ+ ?AT HUMAN 9DIVIDUALS ALSO REMA9 BASICALLY SEP>ATE BUT CAN CONNECT & TRADE KN[L$GE ) V]Y DIFF]5T O!RS MAY BE TAK+ A /EP T[>D ! ANCI5T WISDOM .<6.> ( ! MICROCOSM4'.<#e#h.>  
  

,?IS PASSAGE1 TO SPEAK FRANKLY1 IS 5TIRELY AN?ROPOMORPHIC4 ,WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE ?AT ! P>ALLELS DRAT ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN DRAW BETWE5 MICROCOSMIC ATTRIBUTES & HUMAN BEHAVIOR HAVE ANY?+ 9 COMMON1 ?AT MICROBES EXHIBIT ANY ABILITY ?AT COMP>ES ) ! =ESI<T ?AT W5T 9TO 9V5TION ( ! :EEL1 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ SOCIAL RELATIONS1 'A WORLDWIDE DEC5TRALIZ$ DEMOCRACY'1 REFLECTIVE 'WISDOM'1 & SELF-CONSCI\S 9DIVIDUALITY4 

,HAV+ 9DULG$ 9 ?IS PEAN TO MICROBIAL 9V5TIV5ESS1 WISDOM1 & DEMOCRACY1 ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN 9VITE US TO REG>D 'MAN' AS '! CONSUMMATE EGOTI/'4  
  

,HUMAN BE+S >E NOT P>TICUL>LY SPECIAL1 AP>T1 OR ALONE4444,IT MAY BE A BL[ TO \R COLLECTIVE EGO1 BUT WE >E NOT MA/]S ( LIFE P]*$ ON ! F9AL RUNG ( AN EVOLUTION>Y LADD]4444 ,OBJECTIVE S*OL>S1 IF !Y W]E :ALES OR DOLPH9S1 W\LD PLACE HUMANS1 *IMPANZEES1 & ORANGUTANS 9 ! SAME TAXONOMIC GR\P4 ,!RE IS NO PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS = ! CLASSIFICATION ( HUMAN BE+S 9TO !IR [N FAMILY 7,HOM9IDAE -- ! MANAPES OR APEM571 AP>T FROM ?AT ( ! GREAT APES 7,PONGIDAE -- ! GIBBONS1 SIAMANGS1 GORILLAS1 *IMPS1 & ORANGUTANS74 ,9DE$1 AN EXTRAT]RE/RIAL ANATOMI/ W\LD NOT HESITATE TO PUT US TOGE!R ) ! APES 9 ! SAME SUBFAMILY OR EV5 G5US4.<#e#i.>  
  

,TO >GUE D[N ?IS TAXONOMIC RHETORIC DEMEAN+ ! HUMAN SPECIES AS A M]E PRIMATE W\LD BE AN 9SULT TO ! READ]'S 9TELLIG5CE4 ,NEI!R :ALES NOR DOLPH9S CAN EV] BE OBJECTIVE S*OL>S = A MULTITUDE ( ANATOMICAL1 5VIRONM5TAL1 & EV5 M5TAL REASONS DIAT ACTUALLY EXPLA9 :Y HUMAN BE+S >E 9DE$ UNIQUE & :Y APES MU/ BE PLAC$ 9 A SEP>ATE TAXONOMIC FAMILY4 ,9DE$1 EVOLUTION>Y BIOLOGI/S CAN EASILY MAKE FOOLS ( !MSELVES :5 !Y USE MICROBIOLOGY1 ANATOMY1 & TAXONOMY TO SUBV]T ! UNIQU5ESS ( HUMAN BE+S1 :OSE BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION HAS OP5$ UP CULTURAL DEVELOPM5T4 

,/ILL1 ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN DO NOT D5Y US ! B5EFIT ( A FEW HOMILIES4 ,WE %\LD BE CONSOL$ TO KN[ ?AT IF HUMAN BE+S BECAME EXT9CT1 IF EV5 ALL PRIMATES DISAPPE>$1 '! MICROCOSM W\LD /ILL AB\ND 9 ?OSE ASSETS 7E4G4 N]V\S SY/EMS1 MANIPULATIVE APP5DAGES7 DIAT W]E LEV]AG$ 9TO 9TELLIG5CE & TE*NOLOGY 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4'.<#f.> ,!SE 'ASSETS' W\LD NOT BE N]V\S SY/EMS OR 'APP5DAGES'1 H[EV]1 S9CE ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN SEEM TO REG>D ANY MICROBIAL TRAIT1 SU* AS FLAGELLA1 AS MEANS ( COMMUNICATION COMP>ABLE TO A N]V\S SY/EM & A MEANS ( LOCOMOTION COMP>ABLE TO BIP$AL WALK+4 ,ALAS1 FLAGELLA DO NOT CON/ITUTE >MS OR LEGS2 !Y >E SIMPLY :IPLIKE APP5DAGES ?AT GIVE GREAT] MOTILITY TO MICROBES & CELLS4 ,ONE MI<T1 ) EQUAL SUP]FICIALITY1 REG>D ! W9D AS A MEANS ( COMMUNICATION = ! E>? & WAVES AS SEASIDE VOCALIZATIONS4 

,SO ABUNDANT >E 'HUMAN' *>ACT]I/ICS AMONG MICROBES ?AT %\LD IT COME TO PASS ?AT HUMANITY IS DE/ROY$ BY A NUCLE> BOMB & ITS RADIOACTIVE FALL\T1 ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN CONSOLE US ) !IR 'D\BT ?AT ! OV]ALL HEAL? & UND]LY+ /ABILITY ( ! MICROCOSM W\LD BE AFFECT$4444 ,NOR W\LD ! DE/RUCTION ( ! OZONE LAY]1 P]MITT+ 5TRY ( TORR5TS ( ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION1 RU9 ! MICROBIAL UND]LAY]4 ,9DE$1 IT W\LD PROBABLY AUGM5T IT1 S9CE RADIATION /IMULATES ! BACT]IAL TRANSF] ( G5ES4'.<#f#a.> 

,I WILL NOT DWELL ON ! V>I\S SC5>IOS ,M>GULIS & ,SAGAN (F] = A 'FUTURE SUP]COSM' 9 :I*1 AMONG O!R POSSIBILITIES1 TE*NOLOGY GA9S SU* AUTONOMY ?AT IT MA/]S HUMANS RA!R ?AN ! REV]SE & C>RIES '! WET1 W>M 5VIRONM5T ( ! PRE-,PHAN]OZOIC .<OR ,PRES5T ,]A.> MICROCOSM 9TO A FUTURE AS FASC9AT+LY NONHUMAN AS ! PA/4'.<#f#b.> ,EXACTLY :AT WILL CON/ITUTE 'FASC9ATION' OR :O WILL BE 'FASC9AT$' :5 HUMAN BE+S >E NOT >\ND REMA9S SOME?+ ( A PUZZLE -- UNLESS COMPUT]S >E GIV5 ! EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS ! M5TAL EQUIPM5T TO REPLICATE !SE DI/9CTIY HUMAN ATTRIBUTES4 

,IF SOCIOBIOLOGY HAS EFFECTIVELY R$UC$ HUMAN BE+S TO 'G5E MA*9ES' & MICRO COSMOLOGY SEEMS TO R$UCE !M TO BACT]IA1 ! ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS R$UCES !M TO '9TELLIG5T FLEAS ?AT 9FE/' ,MO!R ,E>? OR1 MORE !I/ICALLY1 ',GAIA'4 ,! IMAGE ( HUMANITY AS FLEAS APPE>S 9 ,JAMES ,LOVELOCK'S /RID5DY ANTIHUMANI/IC #aihh BOOK1  
,! ,AGES ( ,GAIA3 ,A ,BIOGRAPHY ( ,\R ,LIV+ ,PLANET4.<#f#c.> 

,MU*1 ( ! SCI5CE ,LOVELOCK BR+S TO ! ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS 7AS HE CALL$ IT ON ! 9SPIR$ SUGGE/ION ( A NOVELI/ FRI5D1 ,WILLIAM ,GOLD+7 SEEMS TO BE BASICALLY S\ND4 ,DAT+ FROM ! #a#i#gS1 IT ADVANCES ! HYPO!SIS ?AT LIFE OV] ! C\RSE ( ORGANIC EVOLUTION HAS 9T]ACT$ V]Y CREATIVELY ) ITS 9ORGANIC OR ABIOTIC 5VIRONM5T4 ,! E>? AS WE KN[ IT TODAY & AS IT HAS BE5 = MANY MILLIONS ( YE>S WAS NOT 9 ANY S5SE 'GIV5' TO HUMAN BE+S2 LIFE-=MS PLAY$ A DECISIVE ROLE 9 CREAT+ IT4 ,?US '! ATMOSPH]E1 ! OCEANS1 ! CLIMATE1 & ! CRU/ ( ! ,E>? >E REGULAT$ AT A /ATE COM=TABLE = LIFE BECAUSE ( ! BEHAVIOR ( LIV+ ORGANISMS' 4 ,SPECIFICALLY1 A HOMEO/ATIC ME*ANISM ( FE$BACK LOOPS BETWE5 ! E>?'S BIOTA & ITS ABIOTIC 5VIRONM5T KEEPS ! ACIDITY1 TEMP]ATURE1 OXIDATION /ATE1 & 'C]TA9 ASPECTS ( ROCKS & WAT]S' CON/ANT AT ANY GIV5 TIME4 ,?IS CLOSE C\PL+ ( BIOTA & ITS 5VIRONM5TS SUGGE/S ?AT ! PLANET'S BIOSPH]E & ITS ABIOTIC REALM ACTUALLY CON/ITUTE A DI/9CT SY/EM1 ',GAIA'4 .<#f#d.> 

,?IS !SIS IS PLAUSIBLE & 9VIT+4 ,BUT LIKE A NUMB] ( E>LI] ,GAIANS1 ,LOVELOCK1 9 MY VIEW1 IS A R$UCTIONI/ -- ALBEIT ON A MORE COSMIC SCALE ?AN SOCIOBIOLOGI/S & MICROCOSMOLOGI/S4 ,& HE IS A MISAN?ROPE4 ',!RE IS NO CLE> DI/9CTION ANY:]E ON ! ,E>?'S SURFACE BETWE5 LIV+ & NONLIV+ MATT]1' HE TELLS US4 ',!RE IS M]ELY A HI]>*Y ( 9T5SITY GO+ FROM ! 0MAT]IAL0 5VIRONM5T ( ! ROCKS & ! ATMOSPH]E TO ! LIV+ CELLS'4.<#f#e.> ,BYPASS+ ! GRAD$ BUT HI<LY QUALITATIVE DIFF]5CES BETWE5 NON-LIV+ & LIV+ 'MATT]' = A SIMPLI/IC 'HI]>*Y' ( 5]GY LEVELS1 ,LOVELOCK'S NOTION ( ,GAIA EXHIBITS NO REAL CONC]N = OR 9T]E/ 9 SPECIFIC LIFE-=MS4 ,GIV5 ! CONFUSION ?AT P]MEATES ,NEW ,AGE ?9K+1 ! FACT ?AT ! ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS IS EV5 MORE SIMPLI/IC ?AN ,DESC>TES' VIEW ( LIFE HAS NOT DET]R$ ITS ACOLYTES1 9CLUD+ ,LYNN ,M>GULIS1 FROM HAIL+ IT AS A NEW VIEW ( REALITY4 

,ADMITT$LY1 ! BIOSPH]E IS 9DISP5SABLE TO ! EXI/5CE ( ,GAIA1 BUT ,GAIA NONE!LESS 'IS NOT A SYNONYM = ! BIOSPH]E44444 ,/ILL LESS IS ,GAIA ! SAME AS ! BIOTA1 :I* IS SIMPLY ! COLLECTION ( ALL 9DIVIDUAL LIV+ ORGANISMS4' ,CALL+ BIOTA A COLLECTION IS 9DICATIVE ( A QUANTITATIVE ANTIHUMANI/ ORI5TATION ?AT SEES 'HEAPS' & 'AGGREGATES' RA!R ?AN SELF-TRANS=MATIVE ORGANISMS ?AT DEFY ! N>R[ PHYSICALI/ M5TALITY ( POSITIVI/IC SCI5TI/S4 ,YET = ,LOVELOCK ,GAIA EM]G$ ) LIFE 9 ITS E>LIE/ =MS '& EXT5DS 9TO ! FUTURE AS LONG AS LIFE P]SI/S'4.<#f#f.> 

,LOVELOCK'S ,! ,AGES ( ,GAIA CONTA9S AN 9T]E/+ ACC\NT ( ! ,E>?'S EVOLUTION1 FROM ITS ,>*EON TO ITS ,MIDDLE & ,MOD]N AGE1 9 :I* WE F9ALLY >RIVE AT 'MAN' & 'HIS' DO+S4 ,! FACT ?AT1 = ,LOVELOCK1 SPECIFIC LIFE =MS >E M]ELY ! FLEET+ CELLS ( A SUP]ORGANISMIC BODY P]MITS HIS ANTIHUMANISM TO RUN RIOT4 ',\R HUMANI/IC CONC]NS AB\T ! POOR ( ! 9N] CITIES OR ! ,?IRD ,WORLD1' HE DECL>ES1 '& \R NE>-OBSC5E OBSESSION ) DEA?1 SUFF]+1 & PA9 AS IF !SE W]E EVIL 9 !MSELVES -- !SE ?\<TS DIV]T ! M9D FROM \R GROSS & EXCESSIVE DOM9ATION ( ! NATURAL WORLD4' ,) ! SOCIAL 9SI<T ( A ,M>GULIAN MICROCOSMOLOGI/1 ,LOVELOCK DECL>ES3 ',POV]TY & SUFF]+ >E NOT S5T2 !Y >E ! CONSEQU5CES ( :AT WE DO4'.<#f#g.> 

,! ID5TITY ( ,LOVELOCK'S UBIQUIT\S WE H]E IS SURPRIS+LY CRYPTIC4 ,P]HAPS IT 9CLUDES ! DISEMP[]$ MASSES ( ! '9N] CITIES OR ! ,?IRD ,WORLD'1 :O 'GROSSLY & EXCESSIVELY DOM9ATE ! NATURAL WORLD' AS MU* AS ,LOVELOCK APPE>S TO GIVE A DAMN = HUMANITY4 ,OR P]HAPS IT 9CLUDES ! COMPETITIVE & IMM5SELY EMP[]$ BANK]S1 9DU/RIALI/S1 /OCKBROK]S 9 ALL !IR S9I/] MUTATIONS1 POLITICAL MAFIAS1 & SIMIL>LY PRIVILEG$ /RATA :O HAVE BR\<T SOCIETIES >\ND ! WORLD TO VIRTUAL RU94 

,AMID HIS DISMISSAL ( ! DI/RACTIONS CREAT$ BY SOCIAL ISSUES1 ,LOVELOCK ! BIOLOGI/ RA!R CONTEMPTU\SLY TELLS US3 ',PA9 & DEA? >E NORMAL & NATURAL2 WE C\LD NOT LONG SURVIVE )\T !M4'.<#f#h.> ,:AT ,GAIA DO? DELIV]1 ?IS WE MU/ SUFF] 9 ! NAME ( A BIOLOGISM ?AT OV]RIDES SOCIAL ABUSES1 P]HAPS EV5 SOCIAL HORRORS4 

,LOVELOCK'S ,GAIA ,HYPO!SIS MI<T PASS = M]E AMORALISM1 :I* W\LD BE TR\BL+ 5\< 9 ! AGE ( ,AUS*WITZ1 W]E IT W]E NOT SO BANAL4 ',:5 WE DRIVE \R C>S & LI/5 TO ! RADIO BR++ NEWS ( ACID RA91' ,LOVELOCK ADVISES1 'WE NE$ TO REM9D \RSELVES ?AT WE1 P]SONALLY1 >E ! POLLUT]S4444 ,WE >E !RE=E ACC\NTABLE1 P]SONALLY1 = ! DE/RUCTION ( ! TREES BY PHOTO*EMICAL SMOG & ACID RA94 ,WE >E RESPONSIBLE = ! SIL5T SPR+ ?AT ,RA*EL ,C>SON PR$ICT$4'.<#f#i.> ,9DE$1 'WE' >E ABSORB$ 9 A 'CITY LIFE .<?AT.> RE9=CES & /R5G!NS ! H]ESY ( HUMANISM1 ?AT N>CISSI/IC DEVOTION TO HUMAN 9T]E/S ALONE'4.<#g.> ,NOT ONLY IS HUMANISM A H]ESY1 BUT CITIES -- ?AT IS1 ! ONE  
UNIV]SALIZ+ M$IUM BY :I* HUMANITY BEGAN TO OV]COME ITS B>B>\S P>O*IALISM & E?NIC HATR$S -- >E A BLI<T4 

,NOT SURPRIS+LY1 ,LOVELOCK EXHIBITS LITTLE CONC]N = SU* HUMANI/IC PROBLEMS AS POLLUTION1 NUCLE> P[] PLANTS1 & O!R 5VIRONM5TAL DISLOCATIONS1 HIS PI\S REF]5CES TO ,RA*EL ,C>SON'S W>N+ ( A 'SIL5T SPR+' )\T BIRDS NOT)/&+4 ',GAIA1 AS ,I SEE H]1 IS NO DOT+ MO!R TOL]ANT ( MISDEMEANORS1 NOR IS %E SOME FRAGILE & DELICATE DAMSEL 9 DANG] FROM BRUTAL MANK9D1' WE >E FIRMLY ADVIS$4 ',%E IS /]N & T\<1 ALWAYS KEEP+ ! WORLD W>M & COM=TABLE = ?OSE :O OBEY ! RULES1 BUT RU?LESS 9 H] DE/RUCTION ( ?OSE :O TRANSGRESS4 ,H] UNCONSCI\S GOAL IS A PLANET FIT = LIFE4 ,IF HUMANS /& 9 ! WAY ( ?IS1 WE %ALL BE ELIM9AT$ ) AS LITTIE PITY AS W\LD BE %[N BY ! MICRO-BRA9 ( AN 9T]CONT95TAL BALLI/IC NUCLE> MISSILE 9 FULL FLI<T TO ITS T>GET4'.<#g#a.> 

,!SE /RID5T REM>KS >E MEANT TO DEF5D ! AU?OR FROM ! *>GE ?AT HE IS A '*AMPION .<(.> COMPLAC5CE' :O CLAIMS ?AT 'FE$BACK WILL ALWAYS PROTECT ! 5VIRONM5T FROM ANY S]I\S H>M ?AT HUMANS MI<T DO'4.<#g#b.> ,ONE C\LD1 9 FACT1 MAKE A V]Y P]SUASIVE CASE ?AT POLLUTION IS A =M ( NATURAL SELECTION1 9 :I* ,GAIA1 RU?LESS 9 H] DE/RUCTION ( ?OSE :O TRANSGRESS' H] 'RULES' OR 'UNCONSCI\S GOAL IS M]ELY ANO!R NATURAL PH5OM5ON AMONG ! MANY ?AT HAVE DOOM$ C\NTLESS SPECIES TO EXT9CTION4 ,YET ,LOVELOCK'S COSMIC ANTIHUMANISM TAKES ON /RONG !I/IC FEATURES1 H[EV] MU* HE BASES HIS HYPO!SIS ON SCI5CE4 ,9 HIS 'TE/AM5T BUILT >\ND ! IDEA ( ,GAIA1' CONFESSES ,LOVELOCK1 ',I HAVE TRI$ TO %[ ?AT ,GOD & ,GAIA1 !OLOGY & SCI5CE1 EV5 PHYSICS & BIOLOGY >E NOT SEP>ATE BUT A S+LE WAY ( ?\<T4'.<#g#c.> ,HAV+ OBSCUR$ ! B\ND>Y BETWE5 SCI5CE & RELIGION RA!R DEF9ITIVELY1 ,LOVELOCK W&]S ?R\< CITATIONS FROM ,JACQUES ,MONOD 7A /]N MAT]IALI/ & DET]M9I/71 & ,]I* ,JANTS* & ,ILYA ,PRIGOG9E 7ADVOCATES ( SY/EM SELF-DEVELOPM5T71 CONCLUD+ ?AT = ! PRES5T1 MY BELIEF 9 ,GOD RE/S AT ! /AGE ( A POSITIVE AGNO/ICISM'1.<#g#d.> AFT] :I* HE DRIFTS 9TO QUASI-PHILOSOPHICAL FANTASIES ( AN ISL& FIVE HUNDR$ MILLION YE>S FROM N[1 9 :I* BIONIC PHILOSOPH]S & SPEE*LESS VEGETATIVE MALES HAVE NEI!R ! MEANS NOR ! NE$ TO >GUE AB\T ! ORIG9S ( LIFE TO UND]/& ! EVOLUTION ( ,GAIA4 

,LOVELOCK'S P]SONAL PR$ILECTIONS & ASPIRATIONS ASIDE1 :AT IS SURPRIS+ IS ?AT HIS WORKS ON ,GAIA HAVE BE5 E>NE/LY EMBRAC$ BY A HUGE NUMB] ( ,NEW ,AGE 'SPIRITUALI/S'1 :OSE UND]/&+ ( HIS VIEWS LEAVES MU* TO BE DESIR$4 ,ONCE IT LEAVES ! PLAUSIBLE DOMA9 ( E>? SCI5CE1 ,! ,AGES ( ,GAIA IS SO MU* AT W> ) ITSELF1 SO CONTRADICTORY1 & SO AN?ROPOMORPHIC1 ?AT ANYONE LOOK+ AT IT FROM ! /&PO9T ( CONSI/5CY & COH]5CE MAY WELL BE A/ONI%$ ?AT SO MANY ,GAIANS POPULATE ! PRIVILEG$ MIDDLE-CLASS WORLD ( ! LATE TW5TIE? C5TURY4 

,BETWE5 ! SELFI% G5E1 ! SOV]EIGN MICROCOSMOS1 & ,GAIA1 !RE APPE>S TO BE LITTLE ROOM = HUMAN UNIQU5ESS AS A PRODUCT ( EVOLUTION1 NO BELIEF 9 ! POT5TIAL NOBILITY ( ! HUMAN SPIRIT1 9DE$1 NO AU!NTICALLY NATURALI/IC GR\ND+ = GREAT SOCIAL IDEALS & ECOLOGICAL 9SI<TS4 ,REASON B>ELY FACTORS 9 ,WILSON'S & ,LOVELOCK'S ELUCIDATIONS ( SOCIOBIOLOGY & ,GAIA1 RESPECTIVELY1 ONLY BIO*EMI/RY & A VAGUELY CONCEIV$ 'SCI5CE' ?AT BECOMES A EUPHEMISM = M9D4 ,NE>LY ALL ! WORKS ON SOCIOBIOLOGY1 MICROCOSMOLOGY1 & ,GAIA ?AT ESSAY ! ,OLYMPIAN PROJECT ( 'RE-5*ANT+' ! WORLD DEPICT HUMANITY V>I\SLY AS G5E MA*9ES1 AN ASSEMBLAGE ( MICROBES1 OR 9TELLIG5T FLEAS4 ,IF ?IS IS NOT AN $IFY+ *>ACT]IZATION ( ! HUMAN SPECIES1 AS BAD AN IMAGE OR WORSE EM]GES FROM O!R P>TS ( ! CONTEMPOR>Y REP]TOIRE ( ANTIHUMANISM4 

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