Fascinating Article

[selenite0]

Immanuel Kant famously remarked, "from the crooked timber of humanity no truly straight thing can be made." But, in the words of philosopher, Denis Dutton,

It is not . . . that no beautiful carving or piece of furniture can be produced from twisted wood; it is rather that whatever is finally created will only endure if it takes into account the grain, texture, natural joints, knotholes, strengths and weaknesses of the original material.

Evolutionary psychology, by helping us better understand human nature, can aid us in cultivating social orders that do not foolishly attempt to cut against the grain of human nature. We can learn how best to work with the material of humanity to encourage and preserve societies, like own, that are not only beautiful, but will endure.

From Capitalism and Human Nature. The worst crimes in history came from following through on nice-sounding ideas that didn't work with real people. Hopefully developing an understanding about how people respond in real life will help us do better in the future.

Comments

knots and grains

[p-o-u-n-c-e-r.livejournal.com]

Yes! That's why we should avoid putting even good and honorable people into situations where they suffer "conflicts of interests" -- but can safely put even otherwise dangerous people into situations where their ambitions and powers are constrained by "checks and balances".

The vogue for "transparency" doesn't hurt, either. It's like doing your woodwork on the patio, by daylight, instead of in a
dimmer, "smoke filled room".

[amalque.livejournal.com]

Another good book to read on this is The Blank Slate, by Stephen Pinker. While I don't agree with everything he says there (and in fact I have some problems with some of the examples he uses--primarily those he pulls from my field of work), his basic argument is one that I agree with--generally, that human beings are shaped and constrained by nature and instinct to a much greater degree than is recognized or admitted. We are animals, after all, and as such subject to the same drives and instincts as any other animal; it's only human arrogance that would ever claim we're not. Trying to deny that fact, instead of taking it into account and working with it, is pointless and a waste of energy.

[selenite.livejournal.com]

BTW, I did get a copy of the Blank Slate some months back and liked it. Thanks for the rec.