[lbo-talk] Re: Democratic Communism

[Michael Dawson]

If I may:  Is selfish wired into the human situation?  That was the original
question.  Note the word "situation."  Who can doubt that a drive toward
taking care of oneself is wired into the human being?  Who can doubt that,
whatever its creotor's erroneous side-theories, the Freudian dilemma -- 
initial, infantile solipsism -- is real?  Who can doubt that there will
always be lots of people whose socialization and experiences make them
selfish -- i.e., troublingly anti-social?  Human capacities are too varied,
human experiences and environments are too complex.  There will never be a
non-political Nirvana-on-Earth.  The goal is simply to get ourselves as
close as possible to that unattainable ideal.  Luckily and dangerously, we
have PLENTY of room for progress in that direction.

If Lewontin says all biological inheritances can be "treated" to the extent
that they don't matter, he's wrong.  I extremely doubt that's his thesis,
however.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Miles Jackson" <cqmv at pdx.edu>
To: <lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2003 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Re: Democratic Communism


>
>
> On Sat, 8 Nov 2003, Thomas Seay wrote:
>
> >
> > --- Miles Jackson <cqmv at pdx.edu> wrote:
> > when in fact all that
> > > needs to be
> > > done to avoid mental retardation in infants with the
> > > genetic
> > > disorder is control their diets.
> >
> > Oh give me a fucking break; I suppose then autism can
> > be cured with macrobiotics or maybe the Atkins diet.
> > I doubt Luke is saying that society/human intervention
> > does not play a role.
> > However, one is NOT born into any society with a blank slate.
> >
>
> I'm quoting one of the prominent biological researchers
> of the 20th century (Richard Lewontin).  You're using a
> straw man argument; neither I nor Lewontin believe what
> you attribute to me.
>
> Miles
>
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