Why Do We Deny The Existence of Human Nature? (S1EP18)

Summary

In this transcript, the speaker discusses the controversial nature of music as a potential evolutionary adaptation, contrasting it with other behaviors like aggression that are more likely to be adaptations. The speaker also addresses the fear of a non-blank slate, arguing against the belief that humans are born without inherent traits. They refute the idea that equality depends on sameness and emphasize the importance of separating moral beliefs from scientific facts, advocating for a nuanced understanding of human nature and its potential for improvement.

Takeaways

• 🎵 Music is often considered to be an adaptation due to its positive effects on humans, but the evidence supporting this is considered flimsy.
• 🧬 People tend to desire that important aspects of life, like music, are biological adaptations, but there are also negative traits that are likely adaptations which people deny.
• 📚 The concept of the 'blank slate' (tabula rasa) is rejected by the author, who argues that the mind has evolutionary structuring.
• 🤔 Four fears drive the belief in the blank slate: fear of inequality, fear of imperfectability, fear of determinism, and fear of nihilism.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The fear of inequality suggests that a blank slate implies sameness, but the author argues that equality does not require sameness and that diversity can coexist with fairness.
• 🚀 The fear of imperfectability implies that if humans are blank slates, society can be perfected, but the author believes that human complexity allows for improvement despite inherent traits.
• 🔒 The fear of determinism raises concerns about personal responsibility if behaviors are genetically or evolutionarily determined.
• 🌀 The fear of nihilism suggests that without an immortal soul, life loses meaning, but the author argues that meaning can be derived from human relationships and rationality.
• 🧠 The author emphasizes that our brains are complex physical systems, and even if we are our brains, we can still hold each other responsible for actions.
• 🌐 Morality and meaning do not rely on miracles or souls; they can be derived from our capacity for reason and our desire to flourish.

Q & A

What is the main controversy surrounding music according to the transcript?

The main controversy is that people want music to be an adaptation, but the evidence supporting it as a biological adaptation is considered flimsy by the speaker.

Why do people want music to be a biological adaptation?

People want music to be an adaptation because it is uplifting, brings people together, and gives pleasure, leading them to believe it should serve a purpose in human nature.

What is the concept of 'blank slate' or 'tabula rasa' mentioned in the script?

The 'blank slate' or 'tabula rasa' refers to the hypothesis that the mind is without any evolutionary structuring, implying that there is no innate human nature.

What are the four fears that people have of a non-blank slate according to the transcript?

The four fears are: the fear of inequality, the fear of imperfectability, the fear of determinism, and the vague fear of nihilism.

How does the fear of inequality relate to the concept of a blank slate?

The fear of inequality relates to the blank slate concept because it suggests that if humans are born with certain traits, it might lead to unequal abilities or potentials, contradicting the idea of inherent equality.

What does the fear of imperfectability suggest about human nature?

The fear of imperfectability suggests that if humans are not blank slates, then it might be impossible to improve society by changing human behavior, as it is seen as innate.

How does the fear of determinism impact the belief in personal responsibility?

The fear of determinism implies that if behavior is determined by genes or evolution, people might not be held responsible for their choices, leading to an abdication of personal responsibility.

What is the fear of nihilism as described in the transcript?

The fear of nihilism is the worry that without an immortal soul or afterlife, life loses meaning and purpose, and people won't have anything to live for.

Why does the speaker believe that the fear of nihilism is unfounded?

The speaker believes the fear of nihilism is unfounded because life on Earth can still be valued as a finite precious gift, and morality and meaning can be derived from human nature and reason, without the need for miracles or souls.

How does the speaker argue that political equality is different from sameness?

The speaker argues that political equality is about treating individuals according to their merits without prejudice, not about everyone being identical or indistinguishable.

What is the speaker's stance on the possibility of improving human nature?

The speaker believes improvement is possible because human nature is complex, and some aspects can be set against others to work around flaws, similar to how we solve other problems like hunger and disease.