The Privilege and Responsibility of the College Athlete.

A teammate recently posted this video, and I could not help but admire the way Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins recognizes the privilege and responsibility that goes along with being a college athlete. As an athlete myself, listening to this speech was a humbling experience.

My Meeting With E.O. Wilson.

I sat eagerly, on the edge of my seat, waiting for my subject to arrive. For the past 50 years or so, E.O. Wilson has been one of the most prominent men in biology. A myrmecologist by training, his studies on ants paved the way for new avenues in biology, including island biogeography, chemical biology, and sociobiology. Sociobiology was the extension of Darwinian evolution to explain social behaviors in vertebrates and, notably, humans. His biologically-based theories on the evolution of human behaviors, which reeked of the much-opposed concept of genetic determinism, placed him in the center of one of the biggest controversies of the last century.

I couldn’t wait to ask him about how he handled the critics of sociobiology. What was it like to have his lectures protested because of his views? What was it like to have water dumped on his head at the 1978 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science?

But as the door opened and E.O. Wilson stepped into the room, I could hardly believe that this man had ever been involved in such a heated controversy at all. He was tall, sure, but age and countless hours of field work had taken a toll on him. He was slender, with a full head of white hair, and a gentle, closed-mouth smile. I shook his hand, and he sat down in the chair across from me, leaning back and cocking his head slightly to one side. His eyes were focused, trained from years of investigating the slightest details on some of the smallest creatures. They were not judging, not stern, but they took everything in. And behind them lived the mind that formulated some of the most revolutionary ideas of his time.

Because I had forgotten where I wanted to start, I asked him about his childhood. As he spoke of inspecting fire ants around the docks of Mobile, Alabama and his encounter with a five foot poisonous cottonmouth moccasin, he spoke with the Southern geniality of the home he grew up in. He talked about how throughout college evolution came to explain the natural world better than the Southern Baptist tradition he grew up with, leading him from theism to secular humanism. He talked about his love of all of Earth’s creatures and his fascination with nature, inevitably leading to his most recent passion—preserving the declining biodiversity on Earth today. As we talked about human destruction of ecosystems, Wilson spoke with the strength and urgency of a man half his age. “The forces destroying the Earth’s biodiversity can be summed up with the acronym HIPPO,” he said. “H is for habitat destruction, which includes climate change, I is for Invasive species, the first P is for Pollution, the second for Population, and finally O is Overharvesting.” But, he went on, humans also have the power to change the course of destruction. I thought to myself that such optimism must have carried him through the uproar following his publication of Sociobiology.

“Dr. Wilson,” I interrupted. “How did you handle the controversy surrounding Sociobiology and the criticism you received for your views? And how have you handled current criticism from your colleagues regarding your challenge to Kin Selection theory?” He smiled and reiterated the words of Arthur Schopenhauer. “All ideas pass through three stages. They’re first ridiculed, then violently opposed. And then, they are accepted as self-evident.”

The above interview did not actually take place. Quotes from E.O. Wilson were obtained from the following sources:

E.O. Wilson and Elizabeth Kolbert video

Neyfakh, L. (April 17, 2011). Where does good come from?

E.O. Wilson on Human Nature.

At the end of one of his great books, Sociobiology: A New Synthesis, E.O. Wilson suggests that the Darwinian rules that govern social behavior in animals may be applied to humans, as well. This suggestion refueled old concerns about genetic determinism and eugenics and ignited a new major controversy. In response, Wilson published On Human Nature to more fully explain the evolution of human social behavior, quieting the controversy to some extent. The book won him his first Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction.

To be honest, On Human Nature does reflect the idea of genetic determinism--that is, the belief that all aspects of human nature are the result of preexisting instructions contained within our genes. Human beings are not special, though we have intelligence, reason, aesthetic appreciation, and other qualities that some claim make us distinctly human. Wilson argues that human beings are simply vessels for carrying our genes, which perpetuate in the world. The goal of the human mind is to survive and reproduce, and reason is one of the tools it uses to do so.

In philosophy, genetic determinism is generally thought of as the opposite of free will. If life is determined by our genes, which program all our behaviors, how can we make our own choices. Wilson responds as follows:

“We have at last come to the key phrase: genetic determinism. On its interpretation depends the entire relation between biology and the social sciences. To those who wish to reject the implications of sociobiology out of hand, it means that development is insect-like, confined to a single channel, running from a given set of genes to the corresponding single predestined pattern of behavior…The channels of human mental development, in contrast, are circuitous and variable. Rather than specify a single trait, human genes prescribe the capacity to develop a certain array of traits. In some categories of behavior, the array is limited and the outcome can be altered only by strenuous training—if ever. In others, the array is vast and the outcome easily influenced.” (55-57)

In short, Wilson argues that genes encode the capacity to learn certain behaviors. For instance, he argues that aggressive behavior is genetically programmed, but the society in which an individual is raised largely determines what type of aggressive behavior, if any, is expressed. The genes do not instruct any one single outcome. And the interactions between genes and the environment are too complex for humans to understand or predict. In this sense, though our genes determine the types of behavior we express, to some extent we still retain free will. Another distinction that Wilson makes here is that the mind of a newborn is not a blank slate (tabula rasa) as many behaviorists would argue. Instead, genes encode a certain set of possible outcomes, which are shaped by the environment.

I do not know if Wilson's depiction of human nature is satisfying--it leaves very little room for the idea that humans exist for a purpose beyond simple biology--but it is nonetheless interesting, and eloquently argued in his prize winning book, On Human Nature.

Life on the Red Planet.

The fact is this: the human population on Earth is rapidly increasing. In response, E.O. Wilson pleads to humanity to preserve biodiversity and become good steward's of Earth's natural resources. Others, however, have started looking for new places that could support human life. As our closest neighbor, Mars has been explored as a potential new home for human beings.

The first step is determining whether life exists, or has ever existed, on Mars. On Nov. 26, 2011, The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launched its newest spacecraft, Curiosity, with the most advanced technology to date to examine the existence of life. During its mission, Curiosity will analyze air composition and test rocks for the organic compounds necessary for Martian life, such as amino acids.

Though it is unlikely that human beings will colonize Mars within our lifetime, it is exciting to hear that space exploration still goes on. Some, though, are against it, questioning whether it is necessary to spend millions and millions of tax dollars to explore a planet that ultimately may not be able to support life at all. What happened to fervor over space exploration that existed during the Cold War? Do you remember when the United States sent a man to the moon? When John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth? The 50th anniversary of Glenn's feat is right around the corner.

At some point in the future, it may be necessary to look for another home planet. We do not want to start exploring when it is already too late. Space exploration is not a lost science. It is still necessary, and currently making new advances. Curiosity will land on the surface of Mars and begin its exploration for signs of Martian life late this summer.

E.O. Wilson on Biodiversity.

E.O. Wilson, a self-proclaimed secular humanist, believes that human beings are fundamentally inclined toward preservation of the natural world. As he explains in his book The Creation, people are naturally inclined to care deeply about nature, but unable to articulate what preserving nature means to them personally. Wilson makes an argument that human beings depend on nature, on the Creation, for their physical and spiritual well being. The bottom line is this: "The fate of the Creation is the fate of humanity."

Biodiversity refers to the number and variety of the species in a given ecosystem, biome, or even a whole planet and is often an indicator of how well an ecosystem functions. We are fully dependent on functioning ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity to filter our water, enrich our soils, and produce the air we breathe. Wild species provide food and resources, including a number of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals.

Unfortunately, the number of species on the Earth is rapidly declining. At the same time, the number of people on the planet is rapidly increasing. In his book, The Diversity of Life, Wilson says that a birth rate of 2.2 children per woman (the current rate is 2.6 per woman) would yield a population of 12.5 billion by the year 2050. Currently, the population is about 8 billion people and already putting considerable strain on Earth's natural resources. To provide every human being on the plant with the same amount of land, food, water and energy consumed by individuals in the United States would require an additional two planet Earths.

The increasing human population is causing the rapid extinction of many of Earth's species. As humans, however, we are aware of our place in nature and the impact we may have on it. Moreover, we are in a position to do something about it. E.O. Wilson has dedicated much of his time and effort into educating people on the impact humans are having on the Earth. He appeals to both science and religion in an effort to accomplish one goal: Save Creation. Preserve biodiversity and allow for the perpetuation of life on Earth.

The Mall Crowd.

Saturday afternoon I went shopping with my sister and her friend. We went to Garden State Plaza, a good-sized mall with a lot of foot traffic. Around lunch time on a Saturday, though, it is VERY crowded, with an interesting mix of people from all over northern New Jersey.

She wore black, closed-toed shoes with a small heel, black patterned stockings, a black mini skirt, and a red sweater. All of the employees at Victoria's secret were wearing the same colors. While she looked put together, I thought her skirt was a little too short for work. Still, she carried herself with pride and confidence. Had I looked at her face and posture first, I probably wouldn't have noticed the skirt.

He was tall, bald, with glasses. I guess he was there with his daughters, waiting in line to pay while they were off somewhere else. He looked around casually, quietly. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't frowning either. I wonder if he was happy to be spending the days with his girls, or whether he thought it was a chore.

I was waiting in line to try on a few shirts--a long line. A girl in a puffy purple winter jacket walked up to the girl in front of me and started to wait in line next to her. The size of her coat made it seem like I had just been cut by four other people. I don't like waiting in lines to begin with, and I resented her and her jacket for making me wait longer. It was way too hot in the crowded store to be wearing an insulated jacket, anyway.

Her pace was quick. She wore running sneakers, black leggings, and a hooded sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled pack tightly into a pony tail. Clearly, she was at the mall simply running errands, looking straight forward as she swiftly passed people by.

A little boy sat on a bench, a huge smile on his face as he ate a big cup of frozen yogurt, complete with sprinkles and chocolate syrup. I thought it was ironic that he was also bundled up from head to toe, his mother taking care to see that he was protected from the cold. Ice cream is always in season!

Viewpoints: Capitalism

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal are two of the most respected newspapers in the nation. I've always known that the Times has a liberal spin to some of its stories, while the Journal tends to be more conservative. I did not realize how pronounced those differences were until this past week, when I was assigned to compare two Op-Ed articles with different viewpoints on a similar issue.

For my assignment, I chose an article issued in The Wall Street Journal entitled "What the Bible Teaches About Capitalism" by Rabbi Aryeh Spero, president of Caucus for Amerca, a Republican political organization which urges the continuation of those values and policies that preserve historic American civilization and promote America's strong, unique culture. In it, Spero uses Biblical references to build a case in favor of capitalism on religious, moral, and patriotic grounds. He argues that capitalism is the basis for America's historic prosperity and builds the qualities of responsibility, accountability, and ingenuity its citizens. I compared this with "At Davos, Debating Capitalism's future," an article issued in The New York Times by Ed Miliband, a member of the British Parliament and leader of the Labour Party. In it, Miliband describes capitalism as a flawed economic model that is unsuitable for promoting long-term economic recovery and success in the 21st century. He argues that capitalism is a system which promotes the predatory behavior of opportunistic investors and widens the gap between the rich and the poor.

While I generally believe in the Capitalist system, I found Miliband's article quite persuasive. Perhaps we do not have to do away with Capitalism completely, but we need to make changes to the system that can address the chasm between rich and poor that has grown over recent years. I believe that Capitalism produces a competitive market which keeps quality of products high and cost low. It also supports the innovative and creative efforts of entrepreneurs. However, the current system has, perhaps unfairly, rewarded some people for their labor and risk taking more than others.

I was not particularly moved by Spero's argument in favor of capitalism. I think the main reason was that Spero selectively used biblical texts in his argument. He often references the Old Testament, but he rarely addresses the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. Another religious official could examine the New Testament text and conclude that Jesus would have stood against Capitalism. In short, Spero's argument relied heavily on interpretation.

The differences between the opinion pieces issued in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were markedly different. These opinions may be evident in news articles as well. This article in Forbes discusses how the political views of newspaper editors and staff members may leak into their hard news stories. Readers must be wary of the political spin on stories they read and consider this in developing their own opinions.

Better Coffee, Better World.

I am sitting in the Burlington airport. Out the window to my right I can see the Green Mountains in the distance. To my left is a kiosk, selling Green Mountain Coffee, a staple in Vermont.

OK, so I don't actually like the taste of coffee, and I RARELY drink it. I'm not sipping on it now, but I did stumble upon this article from the New York Times about how coffee certifications are improving the lives of coffee workers and preserving the wildlife in the areas in which the coffee is farmed. The goal of Green Mountain Coffee is "to create truly inspired coffee that's environmentally sound, socially just, and undeniably delicious." Starbucks also issues a certification that requires, above all, high quality coffee and includes measures of social responsibility and environmental leadership. It is interesting to think about how certifications, such as the one issued by Starbucks, is improving the way the coffee industry operates and paving the way for a better world.

Maybe the taste of coffee will grow on me. When it does, I know that I can make a conscious choice to buy good coffee that is improving the lives of the workers that make it and the environment in which it is grown. It makes me wonder, in what other ways can my consumer decisions affect a better world?

What have I gotten myself into?

By Tuesday, I will have completed three graduate school interviews in seven days. Though I am very excited about where my life is headed, I know that it is not going to be easy. This comic is from a site, PhD Comics, by graduate students for graduate students. It is great to know that other people out there are going through the same thing that I will be. It is also good to know what I am diving head first into--no matter how hard it will be. Plus, it's pretty funny! Enjoy!

E.O. Wilson

E.O. Wilson is currently one of the world's leading biologists.

Known for his research on the social behavior of ants, Wilson is often recognized as the "father of sociobiology." But his extensive work as a biologist, conservationist, theorist, and author makes him one of the leading public intellectuals of our time. As made plain in the video above, Wilson is passionate about preserving the biodiversity of life on Earth and conscious of the destructive role that humans have played.

Recently, Wilson has shaken up the evolutionary biology community by discrediting the well-believed and well-studied concept of kin selection to explain eusociality, an extreme form of altruism where some individuals in a population give up their own fertility to assist reproducing members of the population, in animals. Furthermore, Wilson has received criticism from other prominent biologists, such as Stephen Jay Gould, for his views on sociobiology.

Wilson's immense body of work, including the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction (twice!), and his controversial ideas make him a fascinating individual to study.

I've included some interesting reading about E.O. Wilson for your reference:

The Diversity of Life. In this book, Wilson describes how life evolved, how life became diverse, and why the diversity of life faces an enormous threat today.

The Creation. Wilson appeals to science and religion to help save life on Earth.

A Brief Communication in Nature. A letter co-signed by hundreds of scientists challenged Wilson's argument against inclusive fitness theory (kin selection).

Intelligent Evolution. Essay in which Wilson draws on his experience in science and his study of the great Darwinian texts to present his view on the unanswered questions surrounding the evolution-intelligent design debate.