Alternatives Quote by E. O. Wilson

“The toxic mix of religion and tribalism has become so dangerous as to justify taking seriously the alternative view, that humanism based on science is the effective antidote, the light and the way at last placed before us.” quote by E. O. Wilson — Download Open image

“The toxic mix of religion and tribalism has become so dangerous as to justify taking seriously the alternative view, that humanism based on science is the effective antidote, the light and the way at last placed before us.”

E. O. Wilson

About This Quote

Source Book: Consilience, 1998

Science-based humanism counters dangerous religious tribalism, offering rational light.

In simple terms: Science humanism opposes harmful tribalism.

Key Takeaway

Embrace scientific humanism.

Themes

science humanism religion tribalism danger

Mood

hopeful analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

policy making
education
public debates

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics sociology

Questions to Reflect On

How can science address tribalism?
What are limits of rational solutions?

A Different Perspective

May overlook cultural values.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2.5 out of 5 (3 ratings)

Alternatives Antidote Dangerous Humanism Humanism Based Justify Lasts Light Religion Religion Tribalism Science Toxic Tribalism Tribalism Dangerous Views Way

More by E. O. Wilson

Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…

E. O. Wilson

Image

It's always been a dream of mine, of exploring the living world, of classifying all the species and finding out what makes up the…

E. O. Wilson

Image

Competing is intense among humans, and within a group, selfish individuals always win. But in contests between groups, groups of altruists always beat groups…

E. O. Wilson

Image

When all else fails, men turn to reason.

E. O. Wilson

Image

The commitment must be much deeper - to let no species knowingly die; to take all reasonable action to protect every species and race…

E. O. Wilson

Image

Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…

E. O. Wilson

Image

The living environment is the biosphere, the thin layer around the world of living organisms. We're part of that. Our existence is dependent on…

E. O. Wilson

Image

The biological evolutionary perception of life and of human qualities is radically different from that of traditional religion, whether it's Southern Baptist or Islam…

E. O. Wilson

Image

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.

E. O. Wilson

Image

In many environments, take away the ants and there would be partial collapses in many of the land ecosystems.

E. O. Wilson

Image

If those committed to the quest fail, they will be forgiven. When lost, they will find another way. The moral imperative of humanism is…

E. O. Wilson

Image

The extinctions ongoing worldwide promise to be at least as great as the mass extinction that occurred at the end of the age of…

E. O. Wilson

Image

Most people are surprised when they hear my somber figures: we know of 2 million species of plants, animals and microorganisms, and we can…

E. O. Wilson

Image

Because the living environment is what really sustains us.

E. O. Wilson

Image

The variety of genes on the planet in viruses exceeds, or is likely to exceed, that in all of the rest of life combined.

E. O. Wilson

Image

Explore all 253 E. O. Wilson quotes

More Alternatives quotes

I am very sad that some designers are still using real fur when the fake alternatives are so effective and so easily obtainable.

Twiggy

Image

The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…

Margaret Mead

Image

I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…

Stephen Jay Gould

Image

Conventional agriculture has never succeeded in feeding the world, and it's never produced anything good to eat. For the future, we need to look…

Dan Barber

Image

[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.

Margaret Thatcher

Image

If one could have a wish, or an alternative life, I would've liked to have been John Lennon.

Gary Oldman

Image

THE REAL PURPOSE OF HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM IS TO MAKE NATIONAL SOCIALISM AN ACCEPTABLE POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE AGAIN.

Harold Covington

Image

Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…

Douglas MacArthur

Image

Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…

Pema Chodron

Image

The mission of Christian humility in social life is not merely to edify, but to keep minds open to many alternatives. The rigidity of…

Thomas Merton

Image

Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.

Don Chipp

Image

In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…

Michael Musto

Image

Altermodern is an in-progress redefinition of modernity in the era of globalisation, stressing the experience of wandering in time, space and mediums. The term…

Nicolas Bourriaud

Image

If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be…

George Dantzig

Image

We must commit ourselves to an 'all of the above' energy approach, with a major focus on increasing domestic production and expanding alternatives fuels,…

Peter Roskam

Image

Browse all 1,463 Alternatives quotes

Alternatives Quote by E. O. Wilson

About This Quote

Related quotes

More by E. O. Wilson

More Alternatives quotes