In the heading of Chapter 7 of the Argument section, Shenk says that "we have far more control over our genes -and far less control of our environment -than we think" (115). The conventional paradigm of nature vs. nurture as we generally know it is that nature is what we don't have control over (i.e. genes) and nurture is what shapes us (i.e. our environment). By stating that we have more control over our genes is almost completely flipping the nature/nurture paradigm on its back, but necessary for Shenk's argument to make sense: its not always one or the either.
If we don't have as much control over our environment than we think, how is human evolution different from the natural selection that dictates the rest of the world? Other animals truly don't have much control over what influences them, but humans are different in that regard. But does this mean that humans are less "free" than we like to think because our environment restricts us? Which oppresses us more than? Genetics or the habits that shape our environment?
Agnes Kwon (akwon0215@gmail.com)
What differentiates humans from other organisms is our self awareness. Humans are capable of understanding how their actions will affect them, even if we may not be thinking about the changes on the genetic level. For example, humans understand that when we practice at something, we become better at it. We are not concerned how the practice will affect our genes, or the genes of future generations. While we are not concerned with these changes, they certainly are occurring. In a non-human organism, dynamic development occurs differently. Non-human organism do not have the luxury of choosing to practice something in order to improve. Non-human organisms are primarily focused on survival. Their practice comes from surveil situations. This practice will still cause changes in genetic makeup. However, a non-human organism can not choose the skills it would like to improve.
ReplyDeleteHumans do not have as much control over our environment as we would like to think. Biotic and Abiotic factors are often impossible to change. (Campbell 1153-1155). While humans oftentimes can not change our environment, we can change how we interact with it. This interaction is what Shenk is referring to when he says "we have more control over our genes...than we think" (115). We can control our actions and how they interact with the environment. For example, we can't control the type of home we are born into, but we can control how we use it. Shenk refers to a study that regards the number of encouragements, and the number of discouragements a child hears in their lifetime. Children who were discouraged had a more difficult time being successful in learning various skills. This is an example of a environment that can not be controlled by humans. However, if the child were to practice a particular skill greatly, they could overcome the difficult environment
Humans are not controlled by our genes. Our actions control our genes. This ties into the interdependence of nature. Our genes depend greatly upon the choices we make. Our body is an interdependent system, with our mind affecting every cell in our body, weather we realize it or not.
Jonah May (Jonah2020@aol.com)