In the last chapter, more than a summary and a conclusion of the points mentioned, Dawkins provides more new information to tie to whole concept together. But this last piece of information, as the long expected vacation after months of hard study, comes in just in the right time. The concept of phenotypes helped, at least much in my specific situation, to connect the whole message to our social characteristics in order to analyze the: “if so, then what?” Prior to the mentioned I had found the theories posed clever, but not of much help beyond the scope of intellectual understanding. After the concept, I started to comprehend how this information could make me a better individual, but beyond that, a better neighbor, a better member of a society, which, in my opinion, is the ultimate purpose of the education I am receiving.
Dawkins explains phenotype as “the bodily manifestation of a gene, the effect that a gene, in comparison with its alleles, has on the body via development. The phenotypic effect of some particular gene might be, say, green eye color (235).” The scientific aspect focused is very thrilling, but I’d rather discuss its application in a social interpretation. It is often that people regard themselves as the center of existence, and in this I must, empty of pride, include myself. When this mentality takes hold we act on our behalf as selfish individuals in order to obtain personal goals, but we forget the effects our behavior may have on those around us. When confronted, we defend ourselves with banal excuses such as stories where other people have done that to us in the past, or how it wasn’t your intention. It is almost like the Prisoner’s Dilemma, where we live our lives by the strict rules of an unforgiving strategy, which has a great long term memory.
Enough criticism of the social aspect present in society, for even though I’m not trying to ignore them, that is not what we intend to understand. As mentioned, what I want to share is how after understanding these principles and theories, I have come up with ways to implement them in a positive way. For our terms we will interchange the gene with the thought and intention, taking biology over to psychology. Every gene has certain phenotypes, and many times the phenotype has an area of effect beyond the direct body, affecting vehicles around. In such a way, every emotion and intention has certain effects triggered both within ourselves and, according to our level of self-control, on those around us. In such way we must develop a thought-selection system in ourselves, and learn to master it.
Whenever an emotion begins to take control, experience it, understand it, but maintain yourself from expressing (reproducing) it until you have its effects (phenotype) completely analyzed. It is a long process of inner training, in which you evolve in your understanding and mastery of your surroundings starting from within. I can’t finish of a better way to enclose my reading of the text than that with which Dawkins began his novel: “Let us teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. Let us understand what our selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have a chance to upset their designs (3).”
Dawkins explains phenotype as “the bodily manifestation of a gene, the effect that a gene, in comparison with its alleles, has on the body via development. The phenotypic effect of some particular gene might be, say, green eye color (235).” The scientific aspect focused is very thrilling, but I’d rather discuss its application in a social interpretation. It is often that people regard themselves as the center of existence, and in this I must, empty of pride, include myself. When this mentality takes hold we act on our behalf as selfish individuals in order to obtain personal goals, but we forget the effects our behavior may have on those around us. When confronted, we defend ourselves with banal excuses such as stories where other people have done that to us in the past, or how it wasn’t your intention. It is almost like the Prisoner’s Dilemma, where we live our lives by the strict rules of an unforgiving strategy, which has a great long term memory.
Enough criticism of the social aspect present in society, for even though I’m not trying to ignore them, that is not what we intend to understand. As mentioned, what I want to share is how after understanding these principles and theories, I have come up with ways to implement them in a positive way. For our terms we will interchange the gene with the thought and intention, taking biology over to psychology. Every gene has certain phenotypes, and many times the phenotype has an area of effect beyond the direct body, affecting vehicles around. In such a way, every emotion and intention has certain effects triggered both within ourselves and, according to our level of self-control, on those around us. In such way we must develop a thought-selection system in ourselves, and learn to master it.
Whenever an emotion begins to take control, experience it, understand it, but maintain yourself from expressing (reproducing) it until you have its effects (phenotype) completely analyzed. It is a long process of inner training, in which you evolve in your understanding and mastery of your surroundings starting from within. I can’t finish of a better way to enclose my reading of the text than that with which Dawkins began his novel: “Let us teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. Let us understand what our selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have a chance to upset their designs (3).”
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario