From: "Richard Knox" <knox-AT-scvnet.com>
Subject: Re: Racism & genes 
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 09:57:35 -0700


Isn't all behaviour ultimately genetically based? Why does a rabbit act
differently than a wolf? I've always assumed it had something to do with her
genes. Racism is a human behaviour and it seems to me that all human
behaviour is rooted in our genes.

It seems likely that  behavoiur exists and persists because it has survival
value.

The question seems to be whether the survival value is  passed through the
genes or  through social custom. Are we more gentle today than in the period
where there were public hangings because our genes have changed or because
we have "inherited" more enlightened and more adaptive  behaviour. Is it
possible that people differ from other mammals in that  people evolve not
only through their biolgical genes but also through the traditions passed
from generation to generation? Isn't that what liberal education is all
about?

So why did the Aztecs and Romans and Jews practice human sacrifice while the
modern citizens of Vancouver don't? Did proto mexicans proto Italians proto
Israelis have more violent genes than modern Canadians? Instead, isn't  it
possible that we've learned something and put it to use?

Richard Knox



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