Re: [ecopath] Is eco-destruction genetically based? (bookdiscusssion)

[Gene GeRue]

Brian:

>I just read this book [The Spirit in the Gene: Humanity's Proud Illusion and the Laws of Nature by Reg Morrison] and found it disturbing and rather convincing. It doesn't tend to promote empowerment since it claims all our violent and eco-destructive tendencies are an inevitable result of our our unique genetic abilities (altruism is also part of the deal).� according to this author our creative brain allows us to invent not only technologies and complex social organizations but also all sorts of irrational/mystical belief systems which justify the most shortsighted and destructive behavior.� Our hard wired emotional responses allow many of the most intelligent (and most of the less gifted) people to support defense of their tribe, country, economic system, religion, etc. even when there is overwhelming evidence that their way of living/belief system causes great human suffering and environmental devastation.� Do the members of this discussion group believe the hypothesis that we are a "plague species" and that our population will crash in the next century no matter what we as individuals or activist groups do?

Thank you for bringing this book to our attention. It looks important. As for your last question, whether our population will crash in the next century depends on factors now unknown: war, famine, disease, political mandates, the extent of birth control. It seems likely that our species will become extinct, as many species have already done. How long it takes for us to become as the dinosaurs depends on our actions, how long Earth will tolerate us, and whether we develop other homes in space.

As for the premise of this book, I will wait until I have read it to write further, but the debate between those who believe we are driven by genetics and those who believe we are more controlled by environment has raged for decades. I think we have genetic predisposition but environmental influence and our reason can overcome genetic knee-jerk.
Gene GeRue, author,
How To Find Your Ideal Country Home: A Comprehensive Guide
http://www.ruralize.com/