Report on Solomon Katz's Talk
"New Perspectives on the Interface between Science and Religion"
by Lauren McNaulty
>Tonight, Dr. Solomon Katz, an anthropologist at Penn, gave his lecture
on New Perspectives on science and religion.
>What with being an anthropologist and all, Dr. Katz discussed (or at
least planned to discuss) biocultural evolution in relation to religion.
He began with a simple diagram linking the genetic center of information,
DNA, with the social/cultural system; the force that holds the two together,
according to Dr. Katz, is the central nervous system. The idea behind this
is that DNA gives us the ability to become and exist as individuals. Over
the course of time, humans' central nervous system has evolved so that we
are capable of exchange with other individuals and the environment around
us. It sets us up to continue evolving since we are constantly taking in
new things, learning, sensing, reforming our existing selves. The singular
perspective we can achieve individually is not as advantageous as the broader
perspective we can gain by exchange with other beings like ourselves. Each
of us has a piece of a story that cannot be completed until all participate
(much like the idea of the blind man and the elephant that kept popping
up throughout our course). Our genetic system brings about our need for
a social system.
>According to Dr. Katz, the human species can increase its survival through
a social system. At first, this kind of altruism takes place between family
members -- individuals invest in their own reproductive success when they
support their own kin. In this way, it is possible for both parties to benefit
from altruism -- it is a win/win situation. (For those of you who are familiar
with the prisoner's dilemma, that is the kind of non-zero sum game to which
Dr. Katz was referring).
>Dr. Katz spent some time in describing/diagramming how certain mating
pairs and investments can produce greater reproductive success than others;
and how the X chromosome is very important in that it carries genes necessary
for the CNS (showing that it is more beneficial for me to invest in my son's
daughter than in my daughter's daughter -- I'll spare you all the explanation).
When all was said and done, Dr. Katz
had shown that certain mating pairs within a family can greatly increase
the likelihood that an individual's X chromosome, and central nervous system
information, would be passed along to succeeding generations.
This ensures that information contained on the X chromosome will be perpetuated;
and, therefore, the CNS will continue to function in such a way that interaction
with the outside environment, and others in that environment, is possible.
However, such inbreeding can become a problem. Genetic mutations make inbreeding
less advantageous, causing people to mate with others outside of their family
or immediate community. This outbreeding acts to put people in contact with
a larger society.
Although all of this is rather confusing, it seems that Dr. Katz's main
point was that evolution operates to increase the success of the the X chromosome,
which carries information for the Central Nervous system, which in turn
allows for greater social interaction. There are rules that govern the social
level of human existence (such as who mates with whom) that relate to the
genetic level of human existence.
Alright, you may ask, what does this have to do with religion?
As the CNS evolves, as does its ability to theorize, generalize, create
myths and attempt to establish order, humans interact with one another more.
Not only are they able to take familial altruism to a higher level by extending
it to the entire community, but they are also able to think about myth,
about reasons why things exist as they do and who/what established such
an existence and order. From this, religion develops. In addition, religion
develops from rules that govern the societies created as people gather and
share in the form of morality. Dr. Katz did not intend to equate religion
with morality, but he did emphasize a fundamental connection between the
two.
So, on the most basic level, there is the individual genetic information
system, many of which link to form a larger social/cultural system; the
religious system forms a greater/more theoretical bond, and can join social/cultural
systems. As one moves from one level or system to another, there is a new
exchange of ideas.
This is where Dr. Katz brought in Kevin Kelly's OUT OF CONTROL, and introduced
the internet as the newest information system in the course of human evolution.
The internet, according to Dr. Katz, opens up our capacities for information
exchange. In addition, the internet calls for a new set of governing rules
that take many different societies into account.
From the letter, it seemed that Dr. Katz was saying this contemporary social
system will bring us to a higher level of exchange that requires a more
global understanding, and therefore requires a new global-oriented morality.
(Whether or not this means one morality for all or greater tolerance for
a diversity of moralities did not seem apparent from his lecture).
According to Dr. Katz, religion and morality are a part of the evolutionary
process.
Sorry if this is too short a summary -- i thought more people might read
it if it wasn't too long.