It costs Kunstler nothing to make these predictions (infact they generate book sales). If he starts putting his money where his mouth is, I’ll lend his opinion a lot more weight.

Regarding “The Selfish Gene”, I don`t think it offers a hopeless view of human life at all.

Rather, sociobiologz offers something truly amaying, and hopeful: a wholly non-religious, non-metaphysical argument for altruism.

Sociobiologically speaking, organisms that don`t display the trait of altruism will be ostracized by the collective, and their genes will be weeded out of the population.

That`s why the trait of altruism exists in so many animals, and persists in the human gene pool.

Many ibertarian extremists, and those on the libertarian right, notably people loike “objectivist” philosopher Ayn Rand, have ridiculed altruism, arguing a philosophz of pure self-interest.

I would counter-argue, from a purely non-religious, non-moralistic point of view, that these people will be the genetic refuse of humanity, destined to be weeded out of the collective for their lack of social skills and lack of a desire to “socialize” themselves and contribute to the commonweal.

The arguments that “greed is good” and that selfishness (as opposed to altruism) is desireable, are a tragic mistake, and are usually made by losers lacking in social skills, who view themselves as somehow “exceptional”. If only society could be bent to their libertarian, selfish philosophy, they would be successful.

The contrary is true. The very fact that they lack social skills and don`t want to make sacrifices, help those less fortunate, or give back to society, negates any talents they might have. The sociobiological imperative dictates that the collective will gang up on such losers and marginalize them, so they will never achieve whatever potential they think they have.

I realize what I`ve said consists largely of generalizations, but they are valid generalizations.

Sociobiology, to me, is full of hope, because it is the truth upon which everything else about humanity — from one-on-one human social interactions, to the rise and spread (and demise) of human civilizations, is founded.

Good post, Roosh.

Are you on goodreads.com?