Everard says:
"'We considered inviting [Castelar] to enroll, but his values are incompatible with ours.'" (p. 733)
What a contrast with Pum in "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks." Pum's lack of an upbringing meant that he had to become as mentally agile and flexible as possible in order to survive and, eventually, thrive. Human plasticity is such that entire populations can be indoctrinated to believe and accept almost anything whereas, despite this, some individuals embrace any opportunity to become creative, innovative, entrepreneurial or revolutionary - especially if circumstances or education encourage them to do this.
There is no unchanging human nature.
5 comments:
Ummm, yeah, there is an unchanging (on a less than evolutionary scale) human nature.
Humans are behaviorally plastic, more so than any other mammal, but that operates within limits.
Eg., both humans and wolves are territorial by instinct. But with wolves, it attaches strictly to physical territory; with humans, territory can be either literal, or metaphorical -- for example, disputes between trade unions or political parties.
Likewise both wolves and human beings are instinctually social; but with wolves, the pack is generally literally a kin-group; humans start on the same basis, but can extend that kinship feeling to other types of in-group.
(So can dogs, but dogs are genetically modified wolves.)
Likewise, all human beings have an instinct to compete for status; what status -is- can differ very widely.
Eg., scholars compete for things like academic postings or prizes or prestigious publication; entrepreneurs for money, etc.
Elon Musk is sort of an entrepreneur manqué; he competes for money to do certain things -- nobody would have picked a company aimed at building reusable rockets to go to Mars if money was an object rather than a means. Yet he's also the richest man in the world and probably the richest one in all human history (monarchs aside).
BTW, has anyone heard from Sean?
I have not heard from Sean and am getting worried.
Paul: I'm worried too. I thought he was improving, but then nothing for an extended period.
What's his full name and address? Perhaps we could find out what's on.
I will reply to this inquiry by email.
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