The Poetic Species: A Conversation with Edward O. Wilson and Robert Hass by Wilson Edward O. & Hass Robert

Author:Wilson, Edward O. & Hass, Robert [Wilson, Edward O.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781934137734
Publisher: Bellevue Literary Press
Published: 2014-03-23T20:00:00+00:00

WILSON: Good point. We dream together, and as a result the cultural products of human nature are vastly expanded and enriched. And approaching from the other side of the divide, biology progresses and connects with the humanities. What biology seems to be doing at the moment is to reveal the roots of ambiguity that define human nature. We’ve been talking, for example, about the eternal confliction of the human mind, between self-serving behavior for the individual and for its offspring, versus service to the group. This clash of evolutionary forces can never result in an equilibrium. If it goes too far toward individualism, societies would dissolve. If, on the other hand, it goes too far toward obedience to the group, the group would turn into an ant colony. So, we’re creatively conflicted, moving back and forth between sin and virtue, rebellion and loyalty, love and hate.

The pull evolves by individual-level natural selection operating on members of the group. It draws the mind toward self-centered, even selfish behavior, which in strong forms we call sin. The opposing pull by group-level natural selection draws the mind in the opposite direction toward group-centered behavior, which we call virtue. The inner mind struggles constantly with this hereditary dynamism. It’s the story of our personal lives. Which we share, with one another, as you say. The creative arts are the sharing of our inner desires and humanity’s struggle. The humanities are our way of understanding and managing the conflict between the two levels that created Homo sapiens. The conflict can never be resolved. And we shouldn’t try too hard to reach a resolution. It defines our species and is the fountain of our creativity.

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