[extropy-chat] Is Ignorance part of the genes?

[Samantha Atkins]

-- resent from bounces yesterday ---

I wouldn't call this an "hypothesis" really as it is a set of  
questions.  The are pretty good questions particularly given some  
recent discussions here.  We have had discussion as to the relative  
value and even "kinds" of rationality (versus logic of our genes),  
whether it can be taught or not, to what extent our genes cause us to  
be not that purely interested in truth or reason,  how they cause us  
certain grief when our favorite ox is gored and so on.

So it is a very pertinent question if our genes contain (or perhaps  
better, cause) ignorance then wouldn't ignorance be OK if our  
rationality is not actually privileged over the "reason" of our genes  
or genetic programming?   This question has surfaced a few times  
recently.  Thanks for bringing it out, Anna.

In Lee's discussion about the teachability of rationality, he posited  
that critical thinking is more or less genetically determined.  Hence  
the second question.  Is being knowledgeable (or rational) a good in  
itself or only to certain people of distinct genetic makeup.  This is  
a fair question.

- samantha

On Mar 21, 2006, at 5:41 PM, Anne-Marie Taylor wrote:

> >Hypothesis:
> >I keep asking myself if it's better to be ignorant:)
> >If genes contain certain characteristics of ignorance,  wouldn't  
> it be OK.
> >To ask that if genes really do contain ignorance,  then it would   
> perhaps  >be a needed to a distinct gene for a certain type of people?
>
> >Hypothesis:
> >I keep asking myself if it's better to be knowledgeable:)
> >If genes contain certain characteristics of knowledge, wouldn't it  
> be OK
> >To ask that if genes really do contain knowledge, then it would be  
> perhaps >be a needed to a distinct gene for a certain type of people?
>
> Is it better to be ignorant or knowledgeable?
> Just curious
> Anna:)
>
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