Nature Vs Nurture Discussions

[Mikael Aizen]

Hi all,

 

Looking to get more discussion and interest in my blog about the recent surge of scientific studies around behavioral genetics.  The consequences of this research are in line with Neo-Nazism, and brings up many potential points of debate.

 

http://murdergenes.blogspot.com

 

Thanks!  I'll follow anyone back if requested.

[Jim Brockett]

When I was in my second year of college in 1964 this subject came up for debate in an painting class I was taking. By the end of the semester there was still no agreement one way or the other. At the time I was in the Nature camp. Of course very little was known about genetics at the time. I argued that God (nature) had gifted me (the spark) with the ability to express myself in images. Now this may sound pompous but it seemed to me that those on the Nurture side tended to be less successful at visual expression than those of us that believed that we had been borne with that particular talent. When nature give one thing she tends to leave something else out...I suck at math...no spark there for me...lol.

I have never left the Natures. Even with all of the advances and discoveries that have been made in genetics I still believe that there is an unseen ether (God, spark, whatever) that resides in the twists of our dna molecules that guides our genes to be this that or the other thing.

Teach mechanics all you want…if the spark isn’t there you will always be mediocre, not an artist…

[Michael]

I strongly disagree in the theory (that's all it is, and ever will be) of predetermination via genetics. Two children grow up in an abusive environment. One child eventually gets into a life of crime while the other grows up to be a success in life. Same parents, same environment, different results. I don't believe people are genetically predisposed to be or do anything; there is just too much evidence to the contrary.

[Jim Brockett]

I'm not talking genetics nor am I talking environment. I don’t believe that there is a gene or set of genes that makes one an artist (writing, music, dance, visual arts etc.). I also don’t believe one can be taught to be an artist. There seems to be a space between the two spiraling halves of the genetic double helix. That space is not a void it is a universe. This universe has no weight, it has no dimension. It has no mass but it’s there all the same. That ethereal cosmos is who and what we are. Can you measure my soul, can you weigh the energy running in my brain that is my creativity, can you find a gene(s) in my dna that makes me, no, compels me to create. Nor can you find those things that made Jeffery Daumier a serial killer. What you can find is what makes my eyes brown or my hands spatulate. I’m talking the spark, I’m talking the light between the stars.

[Mikael Aizen]

Have you seen the latest blog post?  There was a published article claiming genetic predisposition toward Entrepreneurship.  Wouldn't it make sense that there might be a gene or set of genes that makes one an artist if there truly is entrepreneurship or aggression genes?  A creativity gene perhaps?

[Michael]

While we're discussing the possibility of genetic predisposition, we really need to consider weather or not we are getting too smart for our own good. Mankind I mean. If it is proven that genetics determines your course in life, how will we view one another? Should it be public information if someone has a murder gene? If the determination of a violent gene is made at birth, what will be done with the new born? This discovery, if ever made, could have a severe global impact on mankind. You think we have prejudice now...

[Mikael Aizen]

I would like this post, love it if I could.  That's exactly my concern with the future of this research.  Thank you for pointing it out.

[Jim Brockett]

I pray that genetic discoveries of that nature are never ever made.