David Loye is an amazing writer! His sense of humor and way of writing as if he is having a conversation with you is refreshing. Never have I read a scientist who writes so well and is so well read.
When I picked this book, I was looking for something on Darwin’s first book, “Evolution of Species”. I have read part of it, but wanted to finish it. However, I found this book instead. Reading a classic is one thing, but having someone explain what they thought about it is another. It is like taking a college class. Because discussing what you read is where the learning really takes place in my opinion.
I cannot even begin to explain how valuable this book is. And it was a really easy read for a book based purely on science. Loye not only explains Darwin’s theories, but he links them to research done since then that creates a domino effect.
The third part of the limbic system called the thalamocingulate division and research by Paul MacLean and James Wenceslas Papez link this structure to the “receptive area for experiencing emotion”. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for altruism and empathy. When this part of the brain was damaged in monkeys they “showed no grooming or acts of affection”. You know how people today aren’t able to show empathy or kindness to their fellow man? Well this is the part of the brain/limbic system that is damaged in them. And this also is responsible for cluster b personality disorders, or at least co-morbid.
David Loye explains that Darwin’s theory of “survival of the fittest” has been slanted to make an excuse for being selfish and greedy in modern times. When in actuality Darwin was trying to explain that we need to cooperate and work together. Just like in symbiotic relationships, where two organisms work together to make each other better and more successful. They create a win-win situation. Rather than competing to be parasitic towards each other.
Humanity will not survive if we all continue to try to be parasite. When a parasite kills it’s host, it often dies too. This is what we are doing to the Earth. Earth is just a collective of organisms. And humans are just a collective of organisms. As a human being you are more bacteria, virus, and parasite cells than you are human cells. If you choose to partake in mainly parasitic relationships, it will kill you. It is not up for discussion. It is science and fact.
The longer it takes for us to get it together and realize that we are a collective of organisms meant to cooperate and work together, the longer we go on suffering. Just because most people have such damage to their limbic system that they are unable to understand this fact does not mean that it goes away or disappears. It just means we all pay dearly for these people’s ignorance and poor decisions.
How long will you allow a parasite to feed on you before you say enough is enough? How long till that parasite kills you? How long till that parasite causes you brain and/or limbic system damage and you cease to see that parasite as a parasite?
“…we can be-and generally are–more powerfully driven by concern for the regard of others and by love.”
Science is a plethora of patterns. Life is a plethora of patterns. How long till we choose to see the patterns that rule our life and the universe? How long can we choose to act blindly before it kills us all, metaphorically or literally?
I absolutely loved this book! Science is something I hold near and dear to my heart. And it seems like David Loye does too. This was not a quick read. It took a few days to get through the almost 400 pages. But it was worth every second. I would definitely read more of his books. And if you are looking for a book to ease into reading about science I would highly suggest this book. And I would even suggest reading this book above digging right into Darwin himself. Because David Loye does a great job of quoting Darwin’s original text and then explaining it in easy to understand detail.
So much of modern science is based on, or built on, what Darwin discovered. When we allow the thoughts of selfish genes and survival of the fittest to justify our modern day actions, we are misusing the discoveries of the past to justify our sins of the present. Science is not about justification. It is about growth and evolution. We need to do better. And we cannot look towards the past to justify our crimes against humanity.