Cheers to Frans De Waal and His Call to Empathy
Years ago, I learned a couple of really valuable lessons as a wildlife biology major at UC Davis, in California. The first one, revealed in a Philosophy of the Biological Sciences Science class, took the ground out from under me. I realized that what I thought was a system immune to the vulnerabilities of subjectivity was based on nothing more solid than another set of unprovable beliefs. It blew the top off my head and played a significant role in undoing my life as a budding scientist.
Around the same time in an Ecology course, I realized that it was not unusual for researchers to skew their data to fit there hypothesis rather than proving their hypothesis with objective, empirically-based data. Nowadays we don’t expect anything less corrupt, but then, it was another deep disappointment that only confirmed the first lesson.
With that as a backdrop, I am impressed when a devout biologist challenges the bastardization of its “religion of fact” by another “religion” to justify its position. Frans De Waal, a Dutch primatologist does just that in his book, The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society.
As scientists tend to do, De Waal uses biological studies to prove something about our human/social nature, but instead of making excuses for our destructive, self-centered behaviors, he makes a case for why we should and often do have each others best interests at heart. For generations, biologists and others have focused on the competitive, survival-of-the-fittest natures of other animals to explain our human nature.
Well, as I realized during my college days, everyone, including scientists, see what they want to see in nature, as long as it benefits their cause. What’s the business connection, you wonder? Oh, how many decades we’ve modeled and validated business on Social Darwinism, even after it was dismissed as invalid. De Waal points to this painful connection between business and biology:
What we need is a complete overhaul of assumptions about human nature. Too many economists and politicians model human society on the perpetual struggle they believe exists in nature, but which is a mere projection. Like magicians, they first throw their ideological prejudices into the hat of nature, then pull them out by their very ears to show how much nature agrees with them. It’s a trick we have fallen for for too long. Obviously, competition is part of the picture, but humans can’t live by competition alone.
Without even realizing it, De Waal tips his hat to all of us heart-centered business people. How nice it is to be validated by science, the land of untarnished facts, even if they are ultimately subjective. Nature modeling empathy, it’s a welcome turn of projection coming from possibly the most powerful of all contemporary belief systems.
Viva la cooperation, love, and a market place fed by empathy, goodwill, and community care.
See you in the Tent,
Kate
What’s New Friday, July 2nd:
Article: The Three Challenges with Going Into Business Once You’re Older
Heads up all of you who fit into the started a business after middle-age category. Oh, and also those of you, no matter your age, who like feeling competent, comfortable, and approach life cautiously . . . Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Article: Ordinary Greatness and My Grandfather Philip Silver
Death and family can take us out of our spinning quests for more and better in a moment. Consider the paradoxical ways our actions in the moment hold and relinquish our pasts and future. Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Article: Letting the Silence Master You
Take a moment to notice the many layers of sound, of noise that surrounds you? The chatter filling your mind? You may not be able to stop the sounds, but you can always turn your attention . . . Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Navigating Life
Naming My Business
Way Too Much Fun with Marketing
OK, I’m Coming In! New Tenter Looking for Advice . . .
Tutorial/FAQ
We are in the process of creating the Tutorial/FAQ section, so please ask your questions about how this new-fangled thing works here. Questions about this new Oasis and Tent?
Plus, there are a number of discussions already starting up in the Tent:
You can see a list of all the most recent discussions here.
We have lots more planned coming up, see keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks. And, if you need something, give a holler! We’re here to help and make it easy for you.
Until next Friday, see you in The Tent.
