Word: selfish
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...opportunity for self-awareness. Priceless, in that we shall find out once and for all whether there is anything in American life stronger than vulgar materialism and mindless hedonism. Sad, in that there are few reasons to trust that in the struggle for energy, justice will prevail over selfish vested interest. But at least we'll all see ourselves for what we really are. Norman Ravitch Grenoble, France
...turned some of their concerts into a series of songs, each featuring either Bob Weir or Garcia or Keith and Donna Godchaux. Individual billing fosters a highly stylized and self-indulgent kind of music; it destroys the group's integrity and inventiveness. But in Saturday's concert older, less selfish songs prevailed...
...Dawkins," writes Emmerich, "has gotten too wrapped up in his theories of genetic determinism to admit that cultural and environmental influences also affect behavior" and says that it is not until the last chapter that Dawkins "finally acknowledges that humans can 'rebel' against their 'selfish genes'." But, on page three, Dawkins states...
...fallacy to suppose that genetically inherited traits are by definition fixed and unmodifiable...Among animals man is uniquely dominated by culture, by influences learned and handed down. Some would say that culture is so important that genes, whether selfish or not, are virtually irrelevant to the understanding of human nature. Others would disagree...this book...is not an advocacy of one position or another in the nature/nurture controversy...If genes really turn out to be totally irrelevant to the determination of modern human behavior, if we are unique among animals in this respect, it is, at very least, still interesting...
...main problem with The Selfish Gene is that it distorts a subject which is controversial enough when dealt with honestly and factually--as I said in my review. If Dawkins doesn't think genes are "selfish in the sense that the dictionary defines the word," then why does he insist on naming his book "The Selfish Gene"? Why didn't he call his book "Interpretations of Natural Selection" and cut out the non-scientific, agitating rhetoric that makes his book sell and that makes his book likely to be misinterpreted by people who do know enough genetics to separate what...