Quint Buchholz - Wolf und Mann
This is a twenty minute podcast (12/2009) of John Gray speaking about the ideas behind his book Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals:
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Further reading:
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This talk touches on ideas that can also be directly related to Richard Dawkins’ concept of the selfish gene. The human or any other animal / living being is just the vehicle for the survival and replication of the genes. Accepting evolutionary theory means we recognise that humans are just incidental outcomes of this evolutionary process. So the concept that we may have of an individuality and self-awareness setting us apart (we would like to think) from animals is probably just another “talent” or development thrown up by this drive to survive and prosper that is embedded in our genes. Our “self” or individuality or self awareness is something that has optimised the chance of the individual surviving and passing on his/her genes. If I am self-conscious (in this “dasein” sense) then I am perhaps more likely come up with creative ways to survive (and proliferate my genes) because this consciousness perhaps puts me in a better position to understand and control my own survival in the environment. I am perhaps less likely to suffer irrational fears through an enhanced understanding of the things that beset me – and am better able to control and master them?