Well, Who Would Have Thought???
One of the most important books to influence me becoming a behavioural scientist was “The Selfish Gene” written 25 years ago. Today I finally got to meet the author who changed my worldview. It’s not the first time I have been in the same room as Richard Dawkins. About 10 years ago, I shared a train carriage with him but he was so caught up in working on a manuscript and I was so star-struck that I didn’t have the nerve to introduce myself, and say what exactly?
As many of you know, my work has often been contrasted with Richard Dawkins and simpletons often misunderstand what I am saying as contrary to his meme thesis. However, today it was quite clear that we are singing from the same hymn sheet. We had a great discussion about essentialism before his co-presentation with his wife, Lalla Ward (Yes, that’s right… Hammer Horror film actress and side -kick of Tom Baker’s Dr. Who). Children’s essentialism was raised again by a question from the audience (thank you for that Thalia of course!) where he discussed Ernst Mayr’s proposal that psychological essentialism was a fundamental obstacle in human reasoning when it came to understanding natural selection. Music to my ears of course.
He has a signed copy of SuperSense and promised to start reading it tonight. I even think he might! What a day to remember.
15 Comments
November 3, 2009 at 5:03 pm
that’s brilliant! i’d really be interested in hearing what he has to say about your book. meanwhile maybe you could summarize your discussion about essentialism for us? i thought about him and what he’d think/say quite a bit while reading your book.
thanks.
November 4, 2009 at 3:39 am
Hi teobesta & Katie,
Yes, I will blog that item in a couple of days – its a fascinating argument. I thought that I had originated it in the book but it turns out that I was making the same point (but not as succinctly) that Mayr had made 20 years ago and Dawkins repeats in Chapter 2 of his new book.
November 3, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Very cool. Yeah, from what you’ve disclosed of your ideas on your website (tease!) I have trouble seeing the incompatibility with Dawkins’ work. I suppose I will find out for myself soon enough, because SuperSense is on the way right now…
November 3, 2009 at 10:15 pm
You look so chuffed Bruce.
The camera loves you.
November 4, 2009 at 3:40 am
shucks!
November 3, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Superb news, Bruce! I’ve been reading your updates unusually quietly lately, but had to add my congrats on your meeting The RD. And I second teobesta’s request for the Essentialism discussion!
November 4, 2009 at 12:54 am
How superb. I am in awe of your proximity to Dawkins.
I know that he’s a genius, but is he a nice man? Just curious about the other half…
November 4, 2009 at 3:37 am
Yes.. and very fond of his dogs. We went for lunch and both ate bangers and mash washed down with Somerset cider… he does a pretty good accent.
If he seems a bit grumpy, it’s because he has been asked the same questions over and over again.
November 4, 2009 at 3:10 am
Was the talk filmed? Would love to see it (would even be willing to pay a few bucks for it).
November 4, 2009 at 3:34 am
No, not filmed & at one point he asked the photographer who was getting overly active to stop taking pictures – the guy was being very irritating.
November 7, 2009 at 9:17 am
Ah Bruce, I have to confess to being more than just a tad envious. I am a huge fan of Richard’s work, and fully understand your joy at meeting him and having him discuss your ideas. I have to put my pedant hat on, though: The Selfish Gene was published in 1976, a full 33 years ago. There, I’m taking it off now.
November 7, 2009 at 7:54 pm
You’re absolutely right… where did I get that figure from? -Oh yes, I remember… that’s how long I have been a scientist!
November 8, 2009 at 5:02 pm
You don’t look old enough, sir. I’d have said 23 years…24, tops.
November 8, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Thanks Steve… I do seem to have a portrait in the attic. My first paper was Hood & Willatts (1986) British Journal of Developmental Psychology
November 11, 2009 at 8:25 am
Bruce,
You do have one of those eternally-young looking faces. My ex had one, and for a long time, people thought that he was much younger than I was, when in fact, he was one year older.
Don’t worry, though. It allowed me to develop a tough skin, but it probably added to my overall curmudeonliness (wd?).
Go dust your portrait, Dorian.