Evolution quotes: Socialism 9 May 20129 May 2012 To the biologist the problem of socialism appears largely as a problem of size. The extreme socialists desire to run every nation as a single business concern. I do not suppose that Henry Ford would find much difficulty in running Andorra or Luxembourg on a socialistic basis. He has already more men on his pay-roll than their population. It is conceivable that a syndicate of Fords, if we could find them, would make Belgium Ltd or Denmark Inc. pay their way. But while nationalization of certain industries is an obvious possibility in the largest of states, I find it no easier to picture a completely socialized British Empire or United States than an elephant turning somersaults or a hippopotamus jumping a hedge. [J. B. S. Haldane, “On Being the Right Size” 1928] Evolution Politics Quotes
Australian stuff The difference with Australian politics 24 Jun 2010 We just appointed a woman who was born in a foreign country, who is unmarried, and who is not religious, to be our executive. Compare and contrast with a nation of your choice… Read More
Cognition Too adaptationist? 25 Aug 201225 Aug 2012 Penises can too tell the time… As always, click through. Read More
Politics You can’t have proper human relationships unless you are a Christian 4 Apr 201018 Sep 2017 … according to Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, who seems to think that prior to Jesus nobody ever had a decent human relationship. A secular society is right out, brother. The idea that secularism suggests that people might form relationships without the scaffolding of the church seems to worry him… Read More
” I find it no easier to picture a completely socialized British Empire or United States than an elephant turning somersaults or a hippopotamus jumping a hedge.” Or a completely socialized — and prosperous — Soviet Union or China.
Very slick piece of writing. The introduction to this brings the point vividly and dramatical to life. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7166801834924005619
…I’m not sure that the question of whether political/economic systems “work” is a biological question (or “problem”), unless many (many, many, many) parameters can first be defined in biological terms (jumping ability of elephants, for example). Unless, of course, all problems are biological problems.
Yes these mad Marxist scientist and their strange theories, as any sane historian would note the first question to ask is one of context.
Nice strawman in those ‘extreme socialists’ Haldane conjured up for us. What’s next, posts on how ‘extreme facists’ have it all wrong?
In 1928, this was indeed a concern. If he made comments about fascists of any stripe in 1928, I would say he was unduly prescient.