We Have a Gene for That : Uncertain Principles

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"Uncertain Principles" features the miscellaneous ramblings of a physicist at a small liberal arts college. Physics, politics, pop culture, and occasional conversations with his dog.

You've read the blog, now try the book: How to Teach Physics to Your Dog will be published December 22nd by Scribner.

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Emmy is a German Shepherd mix, and the Queen of Niskayuna. She likes treats, walks, chasing bunnies, and quantum physics.

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We Have a Gene for That

Category: Life Science • Pop Culture
Posted on: September 15, 2008 8:15 AM, by Chad Orzel

Via Brian and John, John Cleese's take on genetic determinism:

All the best social commentary comes from comedians, these days.

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All the best social commentary has always come from comedians. Take the Court Jester example.
The reason?
If you're going to tell 'em the truth, you have to make them laugh, so they won't kill you.

Posted by: becca | September 15, 2008 9:00 AM

What Becca said.

The 20th century was an anomaly in that there was insightful, widely read social commentary from people who weren't entertainers. Even then, you had comedians like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, and musicians like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie (folk singers have long been into social commentary as well), who were pushing the boundaries and making it acceptable for non-entertainers to talk about certain subjects.

Posted by: Eric Lund | September 15, 2008 9:58 AM

Billy James Hargis, "a Christian weapon against Communism and its godless allies", blamed his sexual escapades with students of both sexes upon "genes and chromosomes" in October 1974. Trig Palin is simply explained, "non tamen solam intendit interiorem, immo interior nulla est, nisi foris operetur varias carnis mortificationes."

The Bell Curve (1994) is 800 pages of racist diatribe. It is all the more vile for accurately predicting California Academic Performance Index scores for high school students in 2008. Every god-fearing human being is unique and perfect. No genes! No chromosomes!

Physical Review A-E will not be Saved until glossolalia graces its pages. Oh, wait... string theory and SUSY. Never mind.

Posted by: Uncle Al | September 15, 2008 11:53 AM

Thank you, I needed that.

Posted by: Walt | September 15, 2008 12:42 PM

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