In this blog post, we’ll explore the ESS theory of how the balance between the prolific and the non-prolific is maintained in Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene. In his book, The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins rejects the concept of species, which has been used by the scientific community and education system to refer to biological evolution, and looks at living systems centered...
Book Review – The Selfish Gene (Richard Dawkins’ theory of kin selection, is it perfect?)
A critical analysis of Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene, exploring whether his theory of kin selection can fully explain evolutionary behavior. Introduction Richard Dawkins’ 1976 publication of The Selfish Gene introduced a new paradigm to biology about the nature of genes. His theory is as simple as the title suggests: “The primary goal of genes is to prosper (dominance in...
Book Review – Antigone, Does Fate Manipulate Man?
How helpless are we in the face of fate? Sophocles Antigone explores the nature of tragic fate and the implications for human agency. With them the Seed of Wisdom did I sow, And with my own hand labor’d it to grow: And this was all the Harvest that I reap’d-. “I came like Water, and like Wind I go.” This is a poem from Omar Khayyam’s Rubáiyát. I always think of this poem...
Book Review – Is Love Blind and Dangerous by Manon Lescaut?
Is blind love dangerous? We explore the meaning of true love through the passionate and tragic love of Manon Lescaut. There was an American singer named Nat King Cole who died decades ago. Although he was active in the mid-1900s, a very long time ago, there is a song of his that people still love today. It’s called “Too young”. The lyrics go like this They try to tell us we’re...
Where does D. H. Lawrence’s literature fall between ‘sex literature’ and ‘pornographic literature’?
What did D. H. Lawrence explore in the clash between mechanical civilization and human instinct? His literature and life shed light on sexuality, love, and the nature of human existence. Known throughout the world as a novelist and as a poet, D. H. Lawrence is arguably the 20th century’s greatest problematic writer. It is true that his works were often misunderstood as sex literature...
Book Review – Slowness (The Aesthetics of Slowness, A Call to Action for the Speed-Weary Modern World)
Milan Kundera’s novel Slowness criticizes modern society’s obsession with speed and efficiency and emphasizes the value of slowness. By practicing slowness in our busy lives, we can get in touch with our true selves and reclaim our humanity. Milan Kundera’s novel Slowness criticizes the modern world’s tendency to emphasize speed and efficiency, and reminds us of the...
Book Summary – Crime and Punishment (Can Crime Be Justified?)
Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment is a psychological novel about crime and inner conflict. Were Raskolnikov’s choices justified, and can his sins be forgiven? Crime and Punishment plot Raskolnikov, a young man living in a dilapidated boarding house in Pedersburg, contemplates murdering an old woman who pawns nearby. But he’s not brave enough to follow through. He meets...
Why is Bertrand Russell one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century?
Bertrand Russell was one of the most influential intellectuals of the 20th century, not only in philosophy, math, and logic, but also in pacifism and social reform. Bertrand Russell is one of the greatest intellectuals of the 20th century, widely recognized worldwide. Over the course of his life, which spanned three generations, he wrote more than 40 books and countless articles and essays...
Book Review – Conjectures and Refutations (Karl Popper’s Theory Formation and the Role of Conjecture)
This article discusses Karl Popper’s emphasis on the importance of conjecture in theory formation and how his definition of observation influenced his arguments. It analyzes Popper’s distinction between observational inference and direct observation, and examines the implications of theory development through the interplay between the role of observation and conjecture. ...
Reading Log – How to Live on 24 Hours a Day? Learn from “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day”
How should we use the 24 hours in a day given to busy modern people? Arnold Bennett’s “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day” presents ways to effectively manage time and maximize self-development. This blog post is about How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett, who is considered to be the best novelist of the 20th century in the United Kingdom and played an important...