tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post2978858963671422539..comments2024-03-28T12:16:12.797-07:00Comments on Inductivist: Who thinks genes are important?Ron Guhnamehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06421460508647618774noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-17192183769103957022009-11-10T07:56:02.596-08:002009-11-10T07:56:02.596-08:00In interpreting an answer to an opinion poll, you ...In interpreting an answer to an opinion poll, you have to mentally prefix the phrase: "I've never thought about this seriously, but..." You shouldn't interpret them literally.<br /><br />My guess is that a lot of people read the question's underlying meaning as "Are you a racist who hates blacks and hispanics?" and are responding "No, I am a decent, well-meaning person."<br /><br />It's an exchange of symbols, not a factual question and answer.<br /><br />I think polling results about evolution are similarly skewed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-16677459005803432252009-11-09T10:53:20.395-08:002009-11-09T10:53:20.395-08:00Or, perhaps there's a strong Calvinist backbon...Or, perhaps there's a strong Calvinist backbone (or maybe rump) still running through American Christianity, and the logical coorelation is grasped.Commodorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-46740748821219527442009-11-09T10:51:11.455-08:002009-11-09T10:51:11.455-08:00I would guess there is a correlation with Calvinis...I would guess there is a correlation with Calvinism. Catholics are more open to the idea that tribespeople in the Amazon might go to heaven, while a lot of protestants believe God predestined them for hellfire. Also the Germanic ethnic groups seem to be more favorable to genes. (i.e. WASPs like genes; so they probably aren't <i>entirely</i> just like you).Jason Malloynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-36033037135849197112009-11-08T18:17:54.102-08:002009-11-08T18:17:54.102-08:00It is interesting that the religious tend to have ...It is interesting that the religious tend to have stronger beliefs in the influence of genes, given all the flak they catch for having insufficiently materialist worldviews.<br /><br />I did not realize that autism had been determined to have genetic causes, although it wouldn't surprise me if it did. I knew the childhood vaccination theory promoted by renowned scientist Jenny McCarthy had no serious support.Jokah Macphersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04185675633464395897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-53882148497664058352009-11-08T12:37:04.835-08:002009-11-08T12:37:04.835-08:00"Who thinks genes are important?"
A Cou..."Who thinks genes are important?"<br /><br />A <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091030/full/news.2009.1050.html" rel="nofollow">Court</a> of Appeal in Trieste.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26188478.post-3955664795164969532009-11-08T08:39:35.055-08:002009-11-08T08:39:35.055-08:00At the point where the precise genetic cause has b...At the point where the precise genetic cause has been isolated, as it has with Huntington's, genetic therapy is starting to give an out to the "genes don't matter" folks: gene therapy.<br /><br />This is similar to the "race doesn't matter" transhumanist position which is basically that "What's the deal with all you Nazi's worrying about blond hair and blue eyes when those are going to be in huge demand when everyone is engineering their kids?"<br /><br />And, of course, for people who are shallow enough to care about such isolated phenotypes, the future is bright indeed. They share the fallacy of Lewontin's optimism.Jim Boweryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12686155123469135528noreply@blogger.com