What do you guys think about genetic determanism? After reading about the studies on twins (http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/w/wright-twins.html) I feel like I have very little control over my life:(

I mean, after reading all that I'm almost convinced that almost all aspects of personality are determined by genes.

Well since you ARE your genes, you have just as much control as you have ever had and ever will.

At least you're unique

Being determined is a good thing. Radical free will would lead to chaos.

Is this basically about nature versus nurture? Well, philosophers and developmental psychologists have been studying this for a total of about 400 years. The scientific conclusion is that both play a significant role, and that generally genetics predispose someone for certain things, but that experiences and one's environment determine the final product (ie. someone's personality, behavior, cognitive abilities, etc.).

To use intelligence as an example, a child born to intelligent parents would presumably have inherited some of their intellectual abilities, but the environment he's raised in generally would also support and encourage learning and cognitive development. Someone that had some genetic predisposition toward intelligence yet was born in the ghetto would not have the developmental support, and likely might not reach his full potential It seems that most scientists have found that nurture is more significant to how people develop, though they don't deny that genetics play a role.

And you know, I was listening to The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. They were interviewing someone that had been looking at E. Coli baceteria. I don't remember all of the details, but they basically observed that two bacteria with 100% identical genes still behaved in unique ways.

So, my thoughts: Your genes help to shape you, but so does your upbringing, culture, and everything else that you've been surrounded with since birth. I'd say we are slaves to our own brain (and how it has developed) than anything on the DNA level.

Without free will, control is an illusion. But it's okay, you'll still feel like you have control and that is what's important.

Is this basically about nature versus nurture? Well, philosophers and developmental psychologists have been studying this for a total of about 400 years. The scientific conclusion is that both play a significant role, and that generally genetics predispose someone for certain things, but that experiences and one's environment determine the final product (ie. someone's personality, behavior, cognitive abilities, etc.).

To use intelligence as an example, a child born to intelligent parents would presumably have inherited some of their intellectual abilities, but the environment he's raised in generally would also support and encourage learning and cognitive development. Someone that had some genetic predisposition toward intelligence yet was born in the ghetto would not have the developmental support, and likely might not reach his full potential It seems that most scientists have found that nurture is more significant to how people develop, though they don't deny that genetics play a role.

And you know, I was listening to The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. They were interviewing someone that had been looking at E. Coli baceteria. I don't remember all of the details, but they basically observed that two bacteria with 100% identical genes still behaved in unique ways.

So, my thoughts: Your genes help to shape you, but so does your upbringing, culture, and everything else that you've been surrounded with since birth. I'd say we are slaves to our own brain (and how it has developed) than anything on the DNA level.

My thoughts too.

See it as a plain pizza. What you put ontop defines it as what sort of pizza it is. Some pizza's have thick bottoms, others thin crunchy ones. Some have extra cheesy tops and others more sauce. These are the genes, what ever extra comes on top defines it as pepperoni pizza or pizza roma, etc.