Audio available in app
Human nature is influenced by genetics and environment from "summary" of Man, the Unknown by Alexis Carrel
The behavior of man depends on his heredity and on the environment in which he lives. The characteristics of the species are transmitted by heredity. They are due to the arrangement of the chromosomes and to the genes. These elements are transmitted by the parents to the offspring. The characteristics of the species are remarkably constant. They reproduce themselves in the descendants. The environment in which man lives acts upon him. It modifies his behavior, his intelligence, and his body. The organism is adapted to the conditions of life. It reacts to them by various mechanisms. The influence of the environment on man is direct and profound. It acts upon him through his senses. It affects his nervous system, his endocrine glands, his muscles, and his cells. Man is capable of adapting himself to the most varied conditions. He can live in the Arctic or in the tropics. He can follow a sedentary or a nomadic life. He can be a hunter, a fisherman, a farmer, or an industrial worker. The environment acts upon man through his mind. It creates his language, his customs, his beliefs, and his values. It influences the development of his intelligence, his character, and his personality. The environment acts upon man through his body. It determines his growth, his health, and his diseases. It influences his strength, his agility, and his longevity. The environment acts upon man through his society. It creates his institutions, his laws, and his social relationships. It determines his education, his occupation, and his social status. The environment acts upon man through his civilization. It creates his tools, his machines, his works of art, and his scientific discoveries. It influences his progress, his prosperity, and his power. The environment acts upon man through his race. It determines his physical traits, his mental abilities, and his emotional tendencies. It influences his behavior, his morality, and his culture. The environment acts upon man through his history. It creates his wars, his revolutions, his migrations, and his conquests. It determines his rise, his decline, and his fall. The behavior of man is the result of the interaction between his heredity and his environment. It is the product of his genetic endowment and of his cultural heritage. It is the expression of his biological nature and of his social conditioning. Man is a complex being. He is the outcome of a long evolution. He is the creature of his past and of his present. HeSimilar Posts
Social hierarchies can influence behavior and attitudes
Social hierarchies play a crucial role in shaping human behavior and attitudes. People are constantly navigating various social...
Cognition involves mental processes like memory and problemsolving
Cognition encompasses a wide range of mental processes that allow us to understand and interact with the world around us. One k...
Mate preferences and their evolutionary origins
Mate preferences are a central concept in evolutionary psychology, as they provide valuable insights into the underlying mechan...
Identity is uncertain
According to David Hume, the concept of identity is a complex and perplexing one. He argues that our understanding of identity ...
Meditation can increase emotional intelligence
The practice of meditation has been shown to have a profound impact on emotional intelligence. By training the mind to focus on...
Geographic isolation fosters diversity
Geographic isolation plays a critical role in the development of diverse species. When populations of organisms are separated b...
The pursuit of pleasure does not always lead to lasting happiness
The pursuit of pleasure is a common goal for many people seeking happiness. We are often told that doing what feels good will b...
Historical constraints shape the course of evolution
The course of evolution is not a straight path, but rather a winding journey shaped by historical constraints that influence th...
Sexual conflict arises from differences in reproductive interests
In the throes of evolutionary history, males and females engage in a perpetual struggle over reproductive success. This conflic...
The interconnectedness of all living beings is a truth that transcends science
In nature, everything is connected, and this interconnectedness extends beyond what science can explain. While science can diss...