Skip to content
quotesby

It is a very helpful insight to say we are vehicles for our DNA, we are hosts for DNA parasites which are our genes. Those are insights which help us to understand an aspect of life. But it's emotive to say, that's all there is to it, we might as well give up going to Shakespeare plays and give up listening to music and things, because that's got nothing to do with it. That's an entirely different subject.

Richard Dawkins#121

ScienceLifeGeneticsCultureArt

About this quote

What does it mean?
Understanding humans as carriers of genes is useful, but it should not negate the value of art and culture.
In plain terms
Genetic insights help explain life, but they do not replace music or art.
What can you take from it?
Genetic reductionism should not dismiss human culture.

Where it applies

  • discussing human nature
  • evaluating scientific claims
  • appreciating art

Putting it to work

  • balance science and culture
  • enjoy art freely
  • understand genetics

Questions to consider

  • Does science explain everything about humans?
  • How do art and biology interact?

Another view

Focusing solely on genes can overlook the richness of human experience.

More from Richard Dawkins

  1. McDonald: Now a lot of people find great comfort from religion. Not everybody is as you are - well-favored, handsome, wealthy, with a good job, happy family li…

    Permalink to quote #120
  2. I don't want to sound callous. I mean, even if I have nothing to offer, that doesn't matter, because that still doesn't mean that what anybody else has to offe…

    Permalink to quote #122
  3. Maybe somewhere in some other galaxy there is a super-intelligence so colossal that from our point of view it would be a god. But it cannot have been the sort …

    Permalink to quote #119

Related quotes

  1. The Foundation of Empire is Art & Science Remove them or Degrade them & the Empire is No More-Empire follows Art & Not Vice Versa as Englishmen suppose.

    William BlakeWilliam Blake quote #10
  2. Art is the tree of life. SCIENCE is the Tree of DEATH ART is the Tree of LIFE GOD is JESUS

    William BlakeWilliam Blake quote #16
  3. 'To Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar, Kutiyattam was more than art, it was life itself' - Mani Madhava Chakkyar: The Master at Work (film) - Kavalam N. Panickar[17]

    Mani Madhava ChakyarMani Madhava Chakyar quote #17