by Denyse O’Leary
In “Political Science: What Being Neat or Messy Says about Political Leanings” (Scientific American, October 13, 2008) Jordan Lite tackles the “hard science” question, “Do genes determine whether you’ll be liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican?”
What if they did? Then we could dispense with elections in favour of DNA tests. Anyone who doubts that many academic would prefer such measures has not noted the drift to hard core materialism, or naturalism. In a recent study, for example, 78 per cent of evolutionary biologists were pure naturalists — that is, they maintain that there is no God and no free will. Obviously, if there is no free will, democracy is not clearly a defensible system.
This “research” is a classic in finding what you are looking for
Of course, “Neat or Messy?” research is not motivated by anything so grubby as politics, right? …
Read the rest here:
Also, just up at The Mindful Hack, a blog on neuroscience and spirituality questions that supports The Spiritual Brain:
US cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker defends freedom of expression in Canada (Is materialist Pinker also among the prophets?)
Sorry, but Your Soul Just DIDN’T Die (Tom Wolfe changes his mind)
Adopting a dog can be as good for your health as pills?
Arch-atheist Dawkins now thinks serious case can be made for deistic God?
