Genetically influenced behavior is not necessarily good and not necessarily unchangeable. Explanations of bad behavior that appeal to genes do not absolve a person any more than do explanations that appeal to upbringing.
Interpretation
Genetics may influence behavior, but they do not determine it or excuse bad actions.
In this quote, Steven Pinker emphasizes the complexity of human behavior, arguing that while genetics may play a role in shaping our actions, they do not provide a justification for negative behavior. He suggests that attributing actions solely to genetic factors is flawed, just as blaming upbringing would be. Ultimately, he advocates for recognizing personal responsibility regardless of genetic predispositions.
In practice
During a psychology lecture, I addressed how genetic influences don't excuse bad behavior by quoting Steven Pinker.
The foundation of individual rights is the assumption that people have wants and needs and are authorities on what those wants and needs are. If people's stated desires were just some kind of erasable inscription or reprogrammable brainwashing, any atrocity could be justified.
The linguistic clumsiness of tourists and students might be the price we pay for the linguistic genius we displayed as babies, just as the decrepitude of age in the price we pay for the vigor of youth.
If we are not to abandon values such as peace and equality, or our commitments to science and truth, then we must pry these values away from claims about our psychological makeup that are vulnerable to being proven false.
We adults protect ourselves with laws, police, workplace regulations and social norms and there is no conceivable reason why children should be left more vulnerable, other that laziness or callousness in considering what life is like from their point of view.
The idea that children are passive repositories to be shaped by their parents has been massively overstated. A child's peer group is a far greater determinant of its development and achievements than parental aspiration.
Reason is non-negotiable. Try to argue against it, or to exclude it from some realm of knowledge, and you've already lost the argument, because you're using reason to make your case. ... We don't "believe" in reason.
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
To the extent that this world surrenders its richness and diversity, it surrenders its poetry; to the extent that it relinquishes its capacity to surprise, it relinquishes its music; to the extent that it loses its ability to tolerate ridiculous and even dangerous exceptions, it loses its grace.
I was not, I was, I am not, I care not. (Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo)
PHYSIOGNOMY, n. The art of determining the character of another by the resemblances and differences between his face and our own, which is the standard of excellence.
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