#960 - Jerry Coyne - The Spiciest Ideas Of Evolutionary Biology

Overview

This episode dives into evolutionary biology with Jerry Coyne, exploring the mechanisms of speciation, the ideological challenges facing science, and the controversial intersections of biology, culture, and politics. Coyne shares insights from his career, critiques of modern academia, and the broader implications of evolutionary theory on human behavior and societal norms.

Notable Quotes

- Sex is a binary. Every animal and plant species has two reproductive systems. – Jerry Coyne, on the biological reality of sex.

- People believe what makes them feel good, even if there's no evidence for it. – Jerry Coyne, on the tension between ideology and empirical truth.

- The right had an issue with evolution because it killed one of their sacred cows. The left has an issue with evolution because it kills one of theirs. – Chris Williamson, on the ideological weaponization of science.

🧬 The Mystery of Speciation

- Jerry Coyne explains speciation as the process by which continuous evolutionary changes result in distinct, non-interbreeding species.

- Darwin's The Origin of Species is critiqued as misnamed since it doesn't address the mechanisms of speciation, which were only understood in the 20th century with the discovery of reproductive isolation barriers.

- Examples of these barriers include sterility in hybrids (e.g., ligers) and behavioral differences like mating preferences or temporal isolation in plants.

🛡️ Evolution vs. Ideology

- Coyne reflects on his battles with creationism and the ideological erosion of science, particularly in evolutionary psychology and behavioral genetics.

- He critiques both the right's denial of evolution and the left's rejection of biological determinism, noting that both sides selectively weaponize science to suit their agendas.

- The left's resistance to evolutionary psychology stems from its implications for human behavior's genetic constraints, challenging blank-slate ideologies.

📊 Controversies in Academia

- Coyne discusses the ideological pressures in academia, where scientific truths like the binary nature of sex or genetic differences between populations are increasingly suppressed.

- He highlights the rise of progressive math and other postmodern influences that prioritize ideology over empirical evidence.

- Self-censorship among scientists and journalists is noted as a growing issue, with Coyne advocating for civility and truth over disclaimers and virtue signaling.

🌍 Human Evolution and Genetic Load

- The conversation explores how modern medicine and technology reduce natural selection pressures, leading to the accumulation of genetic mutations (dysgenic load).

- Examples include myopia and other conditions that would have been selected against ancestrally but are now mitigated by technological interventions.

- Coyne notes that while this phenomenon is unique to humans, selective breeding in animals, like dogs, shows similar effects.

⚖️ The Intersection of Biology and Politics

- Coyne critiques the politicization of biological facts, such as the denial of sex differences or the claim that race is purely a social construct.

- He argues that these positions stem from a reverse naturalistic fallacy, where people project their ideological desires onto nature.

- The discussion touches on the broader societal implications of these debates, including equity, identity politics, and the challenges of maintaining scientific integrity in a polarized world.