On Euthanasia
Denying an individual’s right to decide the timing and nature of his death is to deny the right to his own body, i.e., the most despicable infraction of individual rights.

On the Human Animal
Humans are often uncomfortable associating themselves with the rest of nature because we have created an artificial chasm between human animals and non-human animals, wishfully believing ourselves apart from nature rather than a part of nature. We have demeaned other animals so cruelly and unjustly that we do not wish to associate ourselves with that negative image, when the human animal is just as awful if not worse.

The sanctity of life stance is arbitrary and selfish—we decide that human life is sacred (while non-human life is not) because we are human and we benefit.

Life is ultimately programmed to preserve the status quo. We are born with a yearning for immortality, which is practically translated into our strivings for emotional, social, and economic security. This yearning, however, either leads to constant pining for a blissful eternal netherworld, and thus neglect of our present circumstances, or a destructive megalomania rooted in the obsession with being remembered after death.

The family link exists because family members are the most closely genetically related to each other, thus in taking care of each other, one is vicariously taking care of oneself. Marriage is simply a contract between two individuals to pool their genes together in order to perpetuate themselves. Unconditional monogamous love is like unflaggingly investing in one stock, and one stock only, however unprofitable the venture, however miserable the experience. But hopefully modern humanity has transcended this genetically-based morality, which produces nothing but narrow-minded tribalism.

Sprituality is simply a survival mechanism. We live to higher standards because if we don’t, society punishes us for making life difficult for its legislators. We strive for greatness because we are genetically programmed to distinguish ourselves in the mating pool. Morality is a survival mechanism, just like eating, drinking, and having sex.

On Intelligence
What is the measure of intelligence? Is the measure arbitrary? I think standards of intelligence are culturally relative, yes, but not arbitrary, as they are based upon sociobiological laws. From this perspective, intelligence is the actual and potential intellectual capacity for success within a given society. But, perhaps this definition results in a gross circularity—what succeeds is what is intelligent, and what is intelligent is what succeeds.

       

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