The Meaning of Human Existence in Science and Inquiry

May 19, 2015 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: environment, philosophy, science, evolution, nonfiction

This is a wonderful little book by a preeminent biologist, Edward Wilson. He has remarkable insights into the world and the nature of progress. If there is a single theme in the book, it is that human progress depends on both science and the humanities. Neither is sufficient by itself. Wilson writes, "The most successful scientist thinks like a poet--wide-ranging, sometimes fantastical--and works like a bookkeeper." In his writing, the scientist must write precisely and avoid metaphor, while in This is a wonderful little book by a preeminent biologist, Edward Wilson. He has remarkable insights into the world and the nature of progress. If there is a single theme in the book, it is that human progress depends on both science and the humanities. Neither is sufficient by itself. Wilson writes, "The most successful scientist thinks like a poet--wide-ranging, sometimes fantastical--and works like a bookkeeper." In his writing, the scientist must write precisely and avoid metaphor, while in poetry and other creative arts, the metaphor is all-important.

Humans are curious about the world, but mostly we are interested in ourselves. Our self-fascination helps to sharpen our social intelligence, the skill that makes human beings geniuses among all the species on Earth.

Wilson is a renowned expert on the social insects--ants, bees, and termites. He has this fascinating observation; "a major difference between people and ants: where we send our young men to war, ants send their old ladies."

Wilson points out a major error in so many science fiction stories about alien conquerors. Smart aliens would never try to colonize Earth, because Earth would be deadly to them. The alien world would have a radically different origin, molecular machinery, and different pathways of evolution. Their ecosystems would by incompatible with Earth's. The result of colonization "would be a biological train wreck. The first to perish would be the alien colonists."

Like in many of his other books, Wilson points out the fact that Earth's biodiversity is decreasing. Many species are going extinct even before they are discovered. This is a major detriment to the human quality of life, because this deprives us of pharmaceuticals, new biotechnology, and advances in agriculture. Biodiversity has given us antibiotics, agriculture that sustains cities and civilization, domesticated animals, and even the air we breathe.

Wilson points out an interesting question; why do people prefer some habitats to others? Why do we prefer to live near parkland and near a body of water? Wilson claims that it is because of prepared learning. We evolved in certain habitats like the African savanna, and we are best adapted to them. As a result, we intuitively prefer these landscapes above all others.

Wilson also takes some big shots at religion. While he recognizes the great services that religions have provided to humanity, he emphasizes the great evils. He writes, "The great religions are also, and tragically, sources of ceaseless and unnecessary suffering. They are impediments to the grasp of reality needed to solve most social problems in the real world. Their exquisitely human flaw is tribalism." Wilson describes how each religion has its own creation myth, and tribalism encourages discrimination against those who do not share a belief in that myth.

Wilson writes about biological parasites that ensure their own survival with minimum pain and cost to their host. And then Wilson writes about dogmatic parasites, that bring in blind faith in supernatural creation stories. The belief in religious superiority over rival tribes, and the belief in creationism are examples of cultural parasites. These beliefs are a "triumph of blind religious faith over carefully tested fact. It is not a conception of reality forged by evidence and logical judgment. Instead, it is part of the price of admission to a religious tribe."

Wilson sums up his main theme, that cultural parasitism is the denial of a basic tenet of science, that of organic evolution. However, if our species has a soul, it lives in the humanities.

This is a deep, deep book, but is quite accessible. I highly recommend it to all people interested in science, philosophy, and the humanities. ...more

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Jan 24, 2016 Jimmy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: environment

Meaning of Human Existence is a collection of essays by a great science writer. Probably never answers the title question, but who cares. I know the answer already anyway.

Individual-Level Selection VS. Group-Level Selection:

Humans are conflicted between the two. On the one hand, we evolved to think about ourselves over others. This might be the side that promoted "sin." On the other hand, we evolved to take care of our groups. This might be the side that promoted virtue, conscience, and honor. ...more

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Feb 08, 2015 Mag rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science, non-fiction, philosophy

In this crossover of philosophy and science, Wilson says to humanity, Know thyself, and thou shalt survive. Know that some of your behaviours are inborn, your propensity for religion is hard-wired albeit irrational, know that the Earth is the only habitable planet for you. The behaviours that guide you come in part from the natural selection that worked on the individual and in part from group selection. Those that we came to see as vices come from an individual's fight for survival; those that In this crossover of philosophy and science, Wilson says to humanity, Know thyself, and thou shalt survive. Know that some of your behaviours are inborn, your propensity for religion is hard-wired albeit irrational, know that the Earth is the only habitable planet for you. The behaviours that guide you come in part from the natural selection that worked on the individual and in part from group selection. Those that we came to see as vices come from an individual's fight for survival; those that we see as virtues: altruism and compassion, for example, from group selection. Selfish members win within groups, but groups of altruists best groups of selfish members. Otherwise, the future is bleak. There is an overwhelming chance we as a species will not survive.

Overall, after a somewhat pompous and preachy beginning, we have an eloquent treatise dealing with our place in the universe and the meaning of our existence. The meaning, which Wilson defines in most humanistic and atheistic terms. He argues that we are a product of natural laws and evolution and there are no deities to take care of us, or second comings. This is it. Wilson condemns religion very strongly, yet, unlike Dawkins, he manages to do it without offending anyone. He makes religious leaders responsible for keeping humans in tribal mindset, which in turn keeps us locked in the type of mentality that prevents global peace and conservation efforts. We need the second enlightenment, he argues- we need to realize that not everybody thinks the same way, and that there may be subtle genetic causes for it. He also argues that we need both science and humanities to come together again to brace with the meaning of our existence.

Nothing very new overall, a continuation of much disputed by some advocacy for the multilevel theory of natural selection that selects both for the individual and the group traits that Wilson discussed in detail in his The Social Conquest of Earth .

I would definitely recommend it even if only for its unsentimental humanistic message, but I also find it quite thought provoking on other levels.
4.5/5 ...more

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Nov 08, 2014 Mary rated it really liked it

Shelves: science

Really interesting book by renowned scientist E. O. Wilson. He is known for his study and research on ants. In this book, he discusses lots of different ideas and speculates on the nature of life on other planets. He talks about human nature and how individuals thrive in communities because people love to be part of something larger than themselves.

He doesn't believe there is a God or any sort of grand intelligence that gave humanity life. Instead, he explains how eons on evolution have raised ...more

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Jan 04, 2015 Charlene rated it really liked it

Shelves: general-science, ecology, evolution, biology

Wilson, unlike many of his famous colleagues, is a perfect example of how scientists should approach a scientific career. Dissimilar from religion, science is meant to change when new evidence filters in. That is all too often not the case with the old guard (ie., Dawkins). Flexible and always on the cutting edge, Wilson remains not only relevant but a continuing trailblazer.

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Apr 18, 2015 Jenny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science

Edward O. Wilson writes well and presents a coherent argument for the value of general thinkers in an age of increasing specialization. He includes information about his beloved ants, and highlights the things that make us most human. This book includes an argument for reason and science instead of faith and religion. It is a reasoned argument, not a strident one and comes at the end of the book.

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