A Boy That Never Lost His Passion
Edward O. Wilson, Harvard professor for 46 years, pioneer of Evolutionary Biology died at age 92 this past Thursday. Wilson was born and raised in Alabama. As a boy he became interested in ants. At the age of 13 he was first to discover the presence of fire ants in the United States, conveyed by merchants ships from South America. According to the New York Times, “He was an expert on insects and explored how natural selection and other forces could influence animal behavior. He then applied his research to humans.”
You would be right to imagine that Wilson was a controversial figure. Two of his books ambitiously titled The Meaning of Human Existence, and On Human Nature, rest on my book shelf labeled: Human Nature. I look forward to reading these volumes soon.
I think that I would have enjoyed Wilson’s company immensely. In another age I think Wilson would have been recognized as a Buddha, an enlightened one. Sadly in a post-modern jaded time, such identification is simply not possible. Here is a collection of quotes from E. O. Wilson:
By any reasonable measure of achievement, the faith of the Enlightenment thinkers in science was justified.
Blind faith, no matter how passionately expressed, will not suffice. Science for its part will test relentlessly every assumption about the human condition.
True character arises from a deeper well than religion.
There is no better high than discovery.
Every major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals.
Political ideology can corrupt the mind, and science.
If history and science have taught us anything, it is that passion and desire are not the same as truth.
People need a sacred narrative. They must have a sense of larger purpose, in one form or another, however intellectualized. They will find a way to keep ancestral spirits alive.
Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.
You are capable of more than you know. Choose a goal that seems right for you and strive to be the best, however hard the path. Aim high. Behave honorably. Prepare to be alone at times, and to endure failure. Persist! The world needs all you can give.
An obituary from Reuters is available for your contemplation CLICK HERE.
One thought on “A Boy That Never Lost His Passion”
I would add two other quotes, the first one I asked his permission to use in my book, 36 Acres. The other is from the introduction to his book on attempting to reach the religious with a logical understanding of nature.
“If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.”
“For mankind to survive beyond the next one hundred years, humanity must be able to get through the bottleneck of ignorance.”
Edward Wilson was, and will continue to be, my hero with regard to intellect and science. I have read most of his books and find his curiosity to have been infectious. I had always wanted to meet him, but without that, I will treasure the note he sent to me when he gave me permission to use his quote in my book.
I would also highly recommend his book titled, The Social Conquest of Earth.