Of course I don't disagree with any of this, but I do want to re-assert the point I was trying to make: that I feel a strong sense of noblesse oblige because, right from birth, I had strong advantages over most of humanity. That's really all I meant by "uterine lottery", but I'm nevertheless happy that this made you think further and go down some rabbit holes!
That makes sense. It is an odd position to be in as a human (monkeys don't care one iota about the strong advantages of birth). And yeah, it did cause me to ruminate because it opens up so many threads to tease apart.
The concept of uterine lottery arises from the mind-body duality, the strong sense that there is "someone," a consciousness, or soul, inside of us, that is associated with, but distinct, from our animal bodies. In this thinking our soul could have been born into another body, in a different situation and that you your soul in in this particular body is by chance, God"s will, or Karma
I don't believe in souls so I see your point, but lots of people do believe in souls.
The God of the Bible? He's pretty clear that he has a plan and even shares it so while his mind may be unknowable, he's pretty open about sharing his plans.
Jeremiah 29:11
Esther 4:14
Romans 8:28
Psalm 33:11
Jeremiah 1:5.
2 Peter 3:9
Psalm 32:8.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Clearly, the Bible promises us that it is the opposite of Random. Unknowable maybe (but again, he shares his intent...)
The God of the Bible is a human interpretation of something beyond human understanding. The God of their understanding was the creator of a universe less than a light minute across. We now know the universe is more than 25 billion light years across. Assuming it is the same creator their conception is hopelessly limited
But that is all based on human accounts. Consider the one possible exception. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was/is God. Jesus could have provided scripture that was literally written by the hand of God. He chose not to do so. Rather than provide the actual Word if God, he let humans, out words in his mouth, with the expected contradictory takes . That doesnt sound like someone who wants his will to be known.
It would definitely be wrong to say that it's truly random, but as much as our parent's choices have an impact on who we are (whether as a result of parenting styles or mate selection), it's still largely out of our control as individuals. Poker is a good analogy in that we can't pick the cards we have but we can choose how to play them (sort of).
I think this is sort of what Andrew meant by the term uterine lottery.
Right. We didn't choose, so it feels arbitrary yet when we dig deeper into genetics and how that affects who we are in almost every way (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) it helps us see how to give our kids a better shot.
Regarding the choices our ancestors make, an event that happened that changed "everything" was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My dad was 17, living in East Los Angeles and was planning on being a car mechanic. That summer, after he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He said that being in the Navy he could see that he needed to get a college degree. So, it changed him and how I was raised. I'm sure it put my two children on the path to five degrees between the two of them. I'm thankful my dad decided to value education.
Okay, but “random” means one thing in statistical patterns and analysis of groups and individuals within groups. Factors that make us what we are certainly follow patterns dictated by realities and history, but chance still brings us into the world (or not) where we are (or elsewhere). We the unique individuals who happen to show up have nothing to do with how we got here. Our impacts begin when we do. No one deserves anything at birth. We are simply lucky or not.
Absolutely untrue. 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'. We aren't so unique and that's the whole point of this essay. We are here because of our genetic lineage. Did you even read the essay? The idea of luck, in this case, is misplaced
I read the essay carefully. We are unique however many traits we inherit randomly from each parent who also inherited traits randomly from one or the other parent with deference to dominant and recessive genes. Specific environmental factors - all through the chain of generations - were also largely random. Surely we do not deserve what we inherit. Did you read the comment?
“Too” hard. But who is scoring points? Which gene we inherit from each parent for specific traits is random. Siblings differ individually because of this. What genes are fully expressed in life will depend on random stimuli in the environment. There is real complexity in the process. We are not machines built from a mechanical blueprint. The “blueprint” leaves quite a bit of “wiggle room” in overall replication. Each organism is unique. I don’t mean to be pedantic or unpleasant here. Just talking, mate.
Care to elaborate or point out an error? One thing about being a polymath isn't always being perfect, but it certainly is always being open to correction.
Of course I don't disagree with any of this, but I do want to re-assert the point I was trying to make: that I feel a strong sense of noblesse oblige because, right from birth, I had strong advantages over most of humanity. That's really all I meant by "uterine lottery", but I'm nevertheless happy that this made you think further and go down some rabbit holes!
That makes sense. It is an odd position to be in as a human (monkeys don't care one iota about the strong advantages of birth). And yeah, it did cause me to ruminate because it opens up so many threads to tease apart.
Good thing we think a little bit more than monkeys!
I mean, good thing many of us do. :)
Monkeys do not have cumulative culture. Humans do, which makes us a fundamentally different kind of animal.
Completely agree. It's just interesting how we separate ourselves where the concept of a uterine lottery even exists.
The concept of uterine lottery arises from the mind-body duality, the strong sense that there is "someone," a consciousness, or soul, inside of us, that is associated with, but distinct, from our animal bodies. In this thinking our soul could have been born into another body, in a different situation and that you your soul in in this particular body is by chance, God"s will, or Karma
I don't believe in souls so I see your point, but lots of people do believe in souls.
Agree. I have a foot note that acknowledges the soul argument but even with a divine soul infusion that still isn't random but God ordained.
God's mind is unknowable and so best approximated as random
The God of the Bible? He's pretty clear that he has a plan and even shares it so while his mind may be unknowable, he's pretty open about sharing his plans.
Jeremiah 29:11
Esther 4:14
Romans 8:28
Psalm 33:11
Jeremiah 1:5.
2 Peter 3:9
Psalm 32:8.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Clearly, the Bible promises us that it is the opposite of Random. Unknowable maybe (but again, he shares his intent...)
The God of the Bible is a human interpretation of something beyond human understanding. The God of their understanding was the creator of a universe less than a light minute across. We now know the universe is more than 25 billion light years across. Assuming it is the same creator their conception is hopelessly limited
Well. That's one interpretation. However God, as articulated in the Bible, is knowable.
1 Samuel 3:1-10; Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29:12-14a; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7-8; John 10:2-4,14; Isaiah 30:21.)
But that is all based on human accounts. Consider the one possible exception. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was/is God. Jesus could have provided scripture that was literally written by the hand of God. He chose not to do so. Rather than provide the actual Word if God, he let humans, out words in his mouth, with the expected contradictory takes . That doesnt sound like someone who wants his will to be known.
It would definitely be wrong to say that it's truly random, but as much as our parent's choices have an impact on who we are (whether as a result of parenting styles or mate selection), it's still largely out of our control as individuals. Poker is a good analogy in that we can't pick the cards we have but we can choose how to play them (sort of).
I think this is sort of what Andrew meant by the term uterine lottery.
In any case, interesting article and perspective!
Right. We didn't choose, so it feels arbitrary yet when we dig deeper into genetics and how that affects who we are in almost every way (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree) it helps us see how to give our kids a better shot.
Regarding the choices our ancestors make, an event that happened that changed "everything" was the bombing of Pearl Harbor. My dad was 17, living in East Los Angeles and was planning on being a car mechanic. That summer, after he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Navy. He said that being in the Navy he could see that he needed to get a college degree. So, it changed him and how I was raised. I'm sure it put my two children on the path to five degrees between the two of them. I'm thankful my dad decided to value education.
It's crazy right? When you look at decisions like that and see the impact.
Okay, but “random” means one thing in statistical patterns and analysis of groups and individuals within groups. Factors that make us what we are certainly follow patterns dictated by realities and history, but chance still brings us into the world (or not) where we are (or elsewhere). We the unique individuals who happen to show up have nothing to do with how we got here. Our impacts begin when we do. No one deserves anything at birth. We are simply lucky or not.
Absolutely untrue. 'the apple doesn't fall far from the tree'. We aren't so unique and that's the whole point of this essay. We are here because of our genetic lineage. Did you even read the essay? The idea of luck, in this case, is misplaced
I read the essay carefully. We are unique however many traits we inherit randomly from each parent who also inherited traits randomly from one or the other parent with deference to dominant and recessive genes. Specific environmental factors - all through the chain of generations - were also largely random. Surely we do not deserve what we inherit. Did you read the comment?
Last try: we had nothing to do with what happened before we were born. How could we? We did not exist. Life is a gift we got. Fare well, my friend.
You missed the entire point of the essay. Fare well my friend.
Why would we not deserve what we inherit? Does a triple crown winning horse not deserve its intentional genetic breeding? Was that random?
The horse “deserves credit” for its effort in winning the races. It had nothing to do with its own breeding.
If you use the word random in those places you do not understand biology.
Aces?
See, trying to hard to score a point silly goose.
“Too” hard. But who is scoring points? Which gene we inherit from each parent for specific traits is random. Siblings differ individually because of this. What genes are fully expressed in life will depend on random stimuli in the environment. There is real complexity in the process. We are not machines built from a mechanical blueprint. The “blueprint” leaves quite a bit of “wiggle room” in overall replication. Each organism is unique. I don’t mean to be pedantic or unpleasant here. Just talking, mate.
That is not how you spell Triple, in either location. Secretariat won the TRIPLE Crown, not the tripple crown.
Great! Thanks for the constructive feedback. I edited and updated. The best part of Polymathic Being is it's all about learning together.
For a polymath, I would hope that you are better at spelling than you have demonstrated in this article.
Care to elaborate or point out an error? One thing about being a polymath isn't always being perfect, but it certainly is always being open to correction.