Written by a Brit nobleman, derivative of Viscounts (royalty of sorts) and a genetic offshoot of Edward Lutyens (architect that helped design New Delhi) author Matt Ridley takes on a bold discussion on the origins and/or subsequent evolution of all things natural and not.
In the author's words - Darwinism is “the special theory of evolution”. But there is a general theory of evolution, too, and it applies to society, money, technology, language, law, culture, music, violence, history, education, politics, God, morality.
Author is a right wing libertarian, a contradiction of sorts but I suspect he is on to something. In other essays and recent writings I have often heard sentiment that aligns with my own thinking that we seem to assign tremendous value to rigid hierarchical structures and somehow are arrogant enough to think that what we design and invent matters to the point that we assign the singular importance to one person or make role models.
Whether its the threat of global warming created by man made events; or monarchy or a CEO running large corporations; or a star athlete in a group sport, there is undue emphasis on star power or one idol.
I have not quite made it to the end of the narrative but the philosophy is intriguing for sure. While there is confusion between evolution and human betterment embedded in our culture the author tends to steer the reader to believe as he does that gradual evolution will weed out what does not work for the larger good.
I will hope so.
In the author's words - Darwinism is “the special theory of evolution”. But there is a general theory of evolution, too, and it applies to society, money, technology, language, law, culture, music, violence, history, education, politics, God, morality.
Author is a right wing libertarian, a contradiction of sorts but I suspect he is on to something. In other essays and recent writings I have often heard sentiment that aligns with my own thinking that we seem to assign tremendous value to rigid hierarchical structures and somehow are arrogant enough to think that what we design and invent matters to the point that we assign the singular importance to one person or make role models.
Whether its the threat of global warming created by man made events; or monarchy or a CEO running large corporations; or a star athlete in a group sport, there is undue emphasis on star power or one idol.
I have not quite made it to the end of the narrative but the philosophy is intriguing for sure. While there is confusion between evolution and human betterment embedded in our culture the author tends to steer the reader to believe as he does that gradual evolution will weed out what does not work for the larger good.
I will hope so.
I tend to believe what he says- without hero worship of any kind, of course.
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