298 Self and the Phenomenon of Life
b2726 Self and the Phenomenon of Life: A Biologist Examines Life from Molecules to Humanity “9x6”However, I should caution that even in a democratic society, the majority
could, under certain circumstances, be persuaded by demagogues to vote
for issues that turn out not to be in their best interest.- Kant initially rejected Thomas Aquinas’ proofs of the existence of God
based on reasoning (Critique of Pure Reason), but later affirmed God on
the basis of moral necessity (Critique of Practical Reason). - The importance of the original sin is emphasized in the theology of Augustine.
- Keeley LH. (1996) War Before Civilization: The Myth of the Peaceful
Savage. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford. - Benn AW. (1882) The Greek Philosophers. K. Paul, Trench, & Co., London,
Vol. I, p. 285; as quoted by Russell B. (1945) in: A History of Western
Philosophy. Simon & Schuster, New York, p. 160; see also: Durant W.
(1939) The Story of Civilization: Part II, The Life of Greece. Simon &
Schuster, New York. - Holldobler B, Wilson EO. (1994) Journey to the Ants. Harvard Univ. Press,
Cambridge, MA. - Mitani JC, Watts DP, Amsler SJ. (2010) Lethal intergroup aggression leads
to territorial expansion in wild chimpanzees. Current Biol 20 : R507–R508. - Gourevitch P. (1998) We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will
be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Farrar, Straus, and
Giroux, New York; as quoted by Chua A. (2003) World on Fire. Double-
day, New York. - Chang I. (1997) The Rape of Nanking. Basic Books, New York, pp. 58 & 59.
- Shi Y, Yin J. (1997) The Rape of Nanking. 2nd ed. Innovative Publishing,
Chicago. - Morrow D, Moore K. (2011) The Forsaken Heroes of the Pacific War: One
Man’s True Story. Tate Publishing, Oklahoma; Bedford Group, 2012. - Reid TR. (1999) Confucius Lives Next Door. Random House, New York.
- Human nature assumes alien groups as dangerous and threatening, a phe-
nomenon known as xenophobia. I am reminded of Stephen Hawking’s
advice that, should we encounter extraterrestrial intelligent beings, we
had better avoid them before they would destroy us (ABC News, April
26, 2010). This echoes my suggestion that the default emotional response
toward an unfamiliar stimulus is one of aversion (see Chapter 9: Self and
Emotion).