From: Reed Konsler (konslerr@mail.weston.org)
Date: Thu 29 May 2003 - 14:50:32 GMT
The pursuit of happiness is, in most cases, probably counter productive from
a genetic standpoint. The only kinds of pleasure that directly serve
genetic interests are those derived from sex, childbirth, and childcare. If
you have experience with these, you will agree that each is also fraught
with much frustration and suffering. What one focuses on will vary.
Pursuit of any other goal, save as a means to the ends above, is a genetic
dead end.
I state this perception only to point out that one shouldn't get too hung
up, personally, on the idea of individual genetic fitness (i.e. is education
a good or bad thing). It would certainly make an interesting research
project, but the ultimate conclusion, I believe, would be that just about
everything we enjoy isn't serving a direct genetic interest.
That is probably an indication of just how dependent we have become on
memes. It's unlikely that one could become "disinfected" and, if so, what
would be the result? Returning to the Garden isn't something that seems
very desirable to me.
Best,
Reed
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