Religion is a feature of cultural evolution that, among other things, addresses anxieties created by cultural evolution; it helps keep social change safe from itself.
Robert WrightRead
Understanding the often unconscious nature of genetic control is the first step toward understanding that—in many realms, not just sex—we’re all puppets, and our best hope for even partial liberation is to try to decipher the logic of the puppeteer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that genetic control influences our behavior and understanding this can lead to personal liberation.
Robert Wright articulates the idea that much of our behavior is shaped by genetic factors that often operate unconsciously. By recognizing this 'puppeteering,' we can begin to understand and potentially break free from these constraints, seeking empowerment through knowledge and awareness of our biological influences.
Themes
Genetic ControlUnderstandingPuppetsLiberationBehavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a psychology class discussing nature versus nurture, this quote could illustrate the genetic influence on behavior.
More from Robert Wright
All quotes →Think of it : zillions and zillions of organisms running around, each under the hypnotic spell of a single truth, all these truths identical, and all logically incompatible with one another : 'My hereditary material is the most important material on earth; its survival justifies your frustration, pain, even death'. And you are one of those organisms, living your life in the thrall of a logical absurdity.
Robert WrightRead
...human beings are a species splendid in their array of moral equipment, tragic in their propensity to misuse it, and pathetic in their ignorance of the misuse.
Robert WrightRead
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