Don't abandon scientific struggle to the right wing (Theo Arrowsmith)
Tuesday 23 October 2012
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EmailSurely Kevin Harrington (M Star October 13) is aware of ruling-class abuse of genetic concepts, of who is superior to whom, of heritability of IQ and so on that they use to confuse us.
If not, then perhaps he should be.
Every successful revolutionary movement needs its theoretical understanding, as well as its visceral reaction to an unjust - and now moribund - system.
This current correspondence began over the views of Richard Dawkins, views which he has explained have changed over the years since The Selfish Gene. The crucial question is "are we humans genetically determined to be selfish or altruistic?" More concretely, are we naturally "capitalist" or "socialist," do we compete or co-operate?
Scientists (including geneticists) like Dawkins can point us to more rational answers, almost certainly founded on our real nature, than any politician ever can. Their controversies are at least as important as any politicians.
A more immediate question might be, is Richard Dawkins progressive or reactionary? That in itself is a dialectical question so, on the available evidence, I suggest that the answer is "yes."
Sorry if that's too complicated.
Theo Arrowsmith
Chesham
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