Richard Dawkins on ''The Selfish Gene' and Libertarianism

Prof. Dawkins talks about his surprise about being contacted by libertarians after publishing 'The Selfish Gene' in the 1970s.

The host takes a long time to get the question out. Dawkins answer starts at 0:55

The full interview, pt. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HYr53gJiNI

Pt. 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEzZtNybTH0

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Richard Dawkins
• Seflish Gene
• Evolutionary Biology
• Ayn Rand
• Objectivism
• Libertarian
• Liberalism
• Genetics
• Natural Selection
• Evolution

[br00k39]

"Right Wing Libertarian" is to a certain extent an oxymoroning phrase, as many libertarians have a lot in common with the Left on social and cultural issues.

[Arjozof]

@Flimsii No, you must clearly distinguish between free-market banking where there is no central bank (e.g. FED) and deposits are backed with specie, and banks which embezzle depositors' money on risky investments go bankrupt and their assets are liquidated - and our current system, where supply of money is socialistic (e.g. centrally-planned by FED) and banking losses are socialized and paid for by taxpayers (mostly with inflation). Change must involve removal of privileges for banks

[Flimsii]

@Arjozof So the bankers whom had complete free reign as to were they invested and how they spent the money cause an economic collapses and this is socialisms fault? How is it possible for anyone to come to that conclusion. Look at the great depression, this was again caused by free market policies in the banking sector. I really think there needs to be a change, but not one that gives the companies that run the goverment MORE power. That is REALLY stupid

[ElJefer]

@Jeffff23 Sadly, he's a statist

[nbarrett100]

Another superb tie

[TimeWarp66]

@Arjozof

100% correct. 

[Arjozof]

people who vote for left-wing parties are either idiots or morons, or simply bigoted anticlericals. Luckily the whole left-wing ideology goes bankrupt with the economic situation it created in EU and USA. Libertarianism will triumph because it is objectively true.

[orospakr]

Aw, no.

Host asked an excellent question, but Dawkins disappointed me badly with his answer. It is important to look in the logical abstract of selfish agents who's future existence is necessarily predicated on their effectiveness in the present. Objectivism derives a human morality from those concepts.

Hm. How to convince Richard to read Atlas Shrugged?

[Jeffff23]

Of course Professor Dawkins is not a moron right-winger or libertarian!

[Guinnesso]

Thank you for clearing that up, Mr. Dawkins. Seriously, /thank you/.

[ThreeLions89]

Dawkins all the way!