Source: The Selfish Gene (1976, 1989), Ch. 4. The Gene machine
Context: Survival machines that can simulate the future are one jump ahead of survival machines that who can only learn of the basis of trial and error. The trouble with overt trial is that it takes time and energy. The trouble with overt error is that it is often fatal.... The evolution of the capacity to simulate seems to have culminated in subjective consciousness. Why this should have happened is, to me, the most profound mystery facing modern biology.
“You humans seem to have a profound capacity for ignoring obvious evidence.”
Source: Calculating God (2000), Chapter 2 (p. 23)
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Robert J. Sawyer 24
Canadian science fiction writer 1960Related quotes
“Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatical”
76
Les Caractères (1688), De la société et de la conversation
Context: Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatical; he who knows nothing thinks he can teach others what he just now has learned himself; whilst he who knows a great deal can scarcely imagine any one should be unacquainted with what he says, and, therefore, speaks with more indifference.
Dijkstra (1972) The Humble Programmer http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD03xx/EWD340.html (EWD340).
1970s
command names, menu formats
L.M. Branscomb, J.C. Thomas (1984) "Ease of use: a system design challenge". in: IBM Systems Journal. Vol 23.3, Sept 1984. Pages 224-235
“Women seem to have almost unlimited capacity for forgiveness.”
Since it is usually a man who needs forgiveness, this must be a racial survival trait.
Richard Ames; chapter 16, p. 200
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls (1985)
“Too far-fetched to believe, too obvious to ignore.”