“[The] notion of outwitting nature literally splits our mind-
brain system because it poses one half of the brain as the enemy
of the other half and turns what should be a splendid synergy
into warring camps. Would a 3-billion-year experiment in genetic
coding really have produced as its finest product a brain whose
only purpose is to outwit itself? Yet, we believe, apparently
with a tenacious passion, that the purpose of human intelligence
is to predict and dominate the infinitely contingent and
interacting balances of a universal system. We call our supposed
successes in this venture progress…” —Joseph Chilton Pearce,
Magical Child So is there an alternative to culture,
socialization, and mimesis? The answer may be right in front of
us, but it may be so obvious that we fail to notice it. First of
all, let’s take a look at what culture is. Of seven meanings
attributed to the word “culture,” there is one that stands out
from the others (emphasized). 1. a particular society at a
particular time and place 2. the