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I’m very much a Christian in ideals and ethics, especially in terms of belief in fairness, a deep set obligation to others, and the virtues of charity, tolerance and generosity that we associate with traditional Christian teaching.

E. O. Wilson

People need a sacred narrative. They must have a sense of larger purpose, in one form or another, however intellectualized. They will find a way to keep ancestral spirits alive.
E. O. WILSON

Alive Ancestor Another Essential Humanity Intellectual Keep Large Purpose Sacred Sense
Religious belief itself is an adaptation that has evolved because we’re hard-wired to form tribalistic religions.
E. O. WILSON

Adaption Belief Evolved Hard Itself Religion Tribalistic Wired
Change will come slowly, across generations, because old beliefs die hard even when demonstrably false.
E. O. WILSON

Across Belief Change Come Demonstrate Even Fall Generation Hard Slowly
There is no better high than discovery.
E. O. WILSON

Better Discovery High One Liner
Ants make up two-thirds of the biomass of all the insects. There are millions of species of organisms and we know almost nothing about them.
E. O. WILSON

All Ant Biomass Insect Make Third Two
It’s obvious that the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life – for 8 billion or more people – without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt.
E. O. WILSON

Attempt Better Bring Century Come Entirely Environment Face Humanity Key Obvious Problem Quality Wrecking
By any reasonable measure of achievement, the faith of the Enlightenment thinkers in science was justified.
E. O. WILSON

Achievement Enlightenment Faith Justify Measure Reasonable Science Think
Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.
E. O. WILSON

Burn Cook Destroy Economic Gain Meal Paint Rainforest Renaissance
Ants have the most complicated social organization on earth next to humans.
E. O. WILSON

Ant Complicate Earth Human Most Next Organization Social
The two major challenges for the 21st century are to improve the economic situation of the majority and save as much of the planet as we can.
E. O. WILSON

Century Challenge Economic Major Majority Much Planet Save Situation
Companies that are willing to share, to withhold in order to further the growth of the company.
E. O. WILSON

Company Further Growth Share Willing Withhold
We have decommissioned natural selection and must now look deep within ourselves and decide what we wish to become.
E. O. WILSON

Decide Decommissioned Deep Look Must Natural Ourselves Selection Wish
Individual versus group selection results in a mix of altruism and selfishness, of virtue and sin, among the members of a society.
E. O. WILSON

Altruism Among Group Individual Member Mix Selfishness Society Versus Virtue
Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled my energies and drove me in new directions.
E. O. WILSON

Bless Brillant Enemies Irony Trace
Religious beliefs evolved by group-selection, tribe competing against tribe, and the illogic of religions is not a weakness but their essential strength.
E. O. WILSON

Belief Competing Essential Evolve Group Illogic Religion Selection Strength Weakness
Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups of selfish individuals.
E. O. WILSON

Altruist Always Among Beat Compete Contest Group Human Individual Intense Selfish Win

I’m very much a Christian in ideals and ethics, especially in terms of belief in fairness, a deep set obligation to others, and the virtues of charity, tolerance and generosity that we associate with traditional Christian teaching.

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I’m very much a Christian in ideals and ethics, especially in terms of belief in fairness, a deep set obligation to others, and the virtues of charity, tolerance and generosity that we associate with traditional Christian teaching.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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