Co-incidence is always odd, and sometimes very slightly disconcerting. For example, yesterdy I read a book review on the twin subjects of altruism and selfishness, and then this morning, lo and behold, my e-pal Malcolm Pollack , pointing to another book, raises exactly the same subject. I am pressed for time so I will not bore on for too long, instead I will urge you all to take a look at the two links and think your thoughts.
The first book, The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness, is concerned with the philosophical problems of altruism but also tells the tragic story of George Price, an extraordinary man of whom, hitherto, I had never heard. He was a brilliant scientist who worled on the Manhatton project during the war and followed that by research in some of the most famous labs in the world. He became obsessed with the problem of altruism partly because he was a fervent atheist and believer in Darwinian theory, and partly also because he was fascinated by religious belief and the part that it appeared to play in establishing moral codes. He struggled through most of his life to establish a mathematical equation in order, I suppose, to square the circle of the altruism problem. In the end he converted to evangelical Christianity and, believing that God had spoken directly to him, he insisted on giving away all of his material possessions to those, like down-and-outs, who had nothing. He ended up homeless, broke and sick and finally ended his life by cutting his own throat.
Malcolm Pollack points us to a book by Sam Harris (also unknown to me) called The Moral Landscape which covers much of the same landscape as Price inhabited. Indeed, 'landscape' is the appropriate word because, apparently, Harris views evolution as taking place in an area of peaks and valleys in which the traits of a species might allow it to live comfortably on a peak, but if the water starts to rise it will depend on its ability to swim (or in effect, to just scrape through) and reach a new higher and safer peak.
Two fascinating books by the sound of it. I am away overnight, back in the morning.
Mr. Duff, maybe you could help me with this.
What does it mean the adjective 'gugga' in a text situated in London circa 1940?
I would be very thankful if you could gave some orientation. I am asking you because I am aware of your knowledge in this matter.
Sorry for disturbing you with my problem and, of course, I will perfectly understand if you cannot help. After all, this is not the purpose of your blog.
Regards.
Posted by: ortega | Tuesday, 05 October 2010 at 11:15
@ ortega, if I were in David's position, I'd ask you to report a bit of the context.
Posted by: dearieme | Tuesday, 05 October 2010 at 11:28
Ortega, I'd love to be able to help but I have never heard the word and it does not appear in my fairly large Oxford English Dictionary. The only possibiility is that perhaps someone mis-used the word 'gaga' which is still current although perhaps a little dated. 'Gaga' means slightly mad or senile usually as a result of old age - as I'm beginning to find out! Perhaps, as DM suggests, you could provide the context of the word.
Posted by: David Duff | Tuesday, 05 October 2010 at 14:14
Thank you so much! I'm very grateful for your answer. As you see, I do not need to be 100 to be a nuisance.
I´ll keep on looking and I´ll informe you of my results.
Thanks again.
Posted by: ortega | Tuesday, 05 October 2010 at 22:18
No problem, Ortega,and please do let me know - you've made me curious now!
Posted by: David Duff | Wednesday, 06 October 2010 at 08:56