E. O. Wilson
E. O. Wilson
Edward Osborne Wilson, usually cited as E. O. Wilson, is an American biologist, researcher, theorist, naturalistand author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants, on which he is considered to be the world's leading expert...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth10 June 1929
CountryUnited States of America
independent intelligent self
Human existence may be simpler than we thought. There is no predestination, no unfathomed mystery of life. Demons and gods do not vie for our allegiance. Instead, we are self-made, independent, alone, and fragile, a biological species adapted to live in a biological world. What counts for long-term survival is intelligent self-understanding, based upon a greater independence of thought than that tolerated today even in our most advanced democratic societies.
self class identity
Daily life is a comprimised blend of posturing for the sake of role-playing and of varying degrees of self-revelation. Under stressful conditions even the "true" self cannot be precisely defined, as Erving Goffman observes. ...Little wonder that the identity crisis is a major source of modern neuroticism , and that the urban middle class aches for a return to a simpler existence.
mean self practice
All my life I have placed great store in civility and good manners, practices I find scarce among the often hard-edged, badly socialized scientists with whom I associate. Tone of voice means a great deal to me in the course of debate. I despise the arrogance and doting self-regard so frequently found among the very bright.
independent self brain
The great paradox of determinism and free will, which has held the attention of the wisest of philosophers and psychologists for generations, can be phrased in more biological terms as follows: If our genes are inherited, and our environment is a train of physical events set in motion before we were born, how can there be a truly independent agent within the brain? The agent itself is created by the interaction of the genes and the environment. It would appear that our freedom is only a self delusion.
selfish winning groups
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.
attention concerned event focus hurricane press selfish success
I am very concerned that we are doing this press event at all today. This hurricane is so devastating to try and focus attention on our success makes us look selfish and out of touch.
local troubling
I was completely surprised. I think things were troubling him from his local detractors.
statement surprised
I was completely surprised at his statement (to resign).
easy good missed
I thought we missed too many easy shots. We made some good shots, but we missed a lot of easy ones.
caught last learned losses lost moved next team
I think we got caught up too much in the losses, when we really just should have learned from the losses and moved on. Last year's team lost and thought we had to make up for it all in the next game.
gas ran
I think we kind of ran out of gas at the end.
ballgame helped turn
I think what got us back in the ballgame was our press. We made them turn the ball over and it helped us get back in it.
developer fix scenario wonderful
I think a wonderful best-case scenario would be if a developer would fix it and take it over.
gave passion rest
It gave me discipline, it gave me passion for having the rest of my life.