When you transcend the reductionism of both genocentrism and cultural theories that bracket human being from its species origins and biological character, a reciprocal movement between the findings of refined experience and biological research becomes available. Drawing upon recent work in dynamic theories of evolution that respect the human achievements of meaning, freedom, consciousness, and creativity, this essay explores how those findings can inform our understandings and practices of freedom, and vice versa. Along the way, it criticizes the critique of genocentrism pursued by Thomas Nagel, contending that it ignores “teleodynamism” in favor of teleological finalism.
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