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I understand why they went with the combative “admit” phrasing in the title. Subtextually, this is a shot fired against unsavory opinions that claim a basis in
by jl6 3y ago
I understand why they went with the combative “admit” phrasing in the title. Subtextually, this is a shot fired against unsavory opinions that claim a basis in strict genetic determinism.
However, that strict interpretation is an extreme fringe of belief. The interaction between “nature” and “nurture” is a fully mainstream concept, especially amongst scientists, and especially amongst biologists. What is this “New Biology” of which the book speaks? The article is arguing against something of a straw man.
Worse, this manner of challenging the notion of strict genetic determinism is fuel to the terminally polarized who will snap to the equal and opposite error of assuming genes don’t matter at all - an idea which underwrites a bunch of profoundly unscientific woo.
- 0thgen 3y agoWell said. "The picture is more complex than this strawman" is being framed as "we need a new paradigm!". I'm curious what motivates this. It's not like progress in genetic research and technology has stalled (see: crispr, IVF screening, GMOs, etc). And I don't see how moving from "genetic determinism" to "environmental determinism" is any less depressing / defeatist. World politics suggests we have about as little control over our environment than our genetics