Darwin, Evolution, and Altruism

Richard Dawkins is more of the pessimistic one between him and Oliva Judson. His writing is more of a harsher way of viewing things, such as sacrificing oneself for another. He writes "Finally, he chooses to perform the behaviour pattern which emerges with the largest net benefit." (Dawkins 67) He basically tell us about how people only give up for another person when there is more to gain; that we also are only likely to sacrifice ourself for those who we share close genes with such as siblings or children.

Olivia Judson is the more optimistic of the two. She talks more about the selfless acts that people do rather than the selfish acts where there is more to be rewarded towards oneself. Judson writes "Humans often risk their lives for strangers... or for people they know but are not related to." (Judson 92) She gives the example of firefighters during 9/11 to prove it is possible to give to others without gaining something for themselves. Although between the two, her point of view is more about competition than cooperation. She talks about examples such as dominate males trying to overpower one another as well as how stepparents tend to care more for their own child than the adopted one.

Judson's section is easier to read in tone because she writes more about "Selflessness" which is a more positive subject than Dawkins' "Selfishness." Its easier to accept what sounds nicer and more positive than it is when the topic is about something negative.

Eng103 Freewrite 3

I am writing about "Science and technology: promise or peril." I would need to locate a book about readinging habits and the internet to research on as well as a few youtube videos maybe to help expand my work. My research topic choice hasn't changed from writing about the internet's benifits and pitfalls, or how it effects are mental capabilities.

Blog Post #2

Sacks tells us “she knows several non-autistic people... who seem able to see what they need to do...” (Sacks 14) Temple Grandin has managed to make friends with people who are visual thinkers, like engineers and designers. Those who “see” what they have to do. This quote tell me that even with her autism, she is able to still create relationships with other people, although they have to share something very strong in common with her. From how she is portrayed in articles, it would seem more likely to me that she wouldn't have any friends and her only contact with other would be strictly work related.

The author tells us “she feels she can have sympathy for what is physical...but lack empathy for people's states of mind and perspectives.” (Sacks 10) Temple Grandin's sympathy is also a way of how she is able to connect, but lacks the empathy to truly feel. For this quote, its importance is that it explains how her mind works when it comes to others. Even though I personally knew already that autism doesn't allow someone to really connect to their emotions, others may not have known and thought it was only in some cases.

Both of these quotes prove that it is not needed for one to have emotions in order to connect to another human being. The first quote shows Temple Grandin has been able to make relationships with others, despite what the second quote may say.