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In Anne’s group on Thursday, we discuss the idea of the “selfish gene”.  The selfish gene is Dawkins theory that “from the gene’s ‘point of view,’ a body was a sort of survival machine created to enhance the gene’s chances of continued replication” (p. 325).  I find that viewing life from the gene’s perspective is very interesting.  This idea is hard to grasp at first because it puts humans in a subordinate position relative to the genes, since we are just machines that carry genes so that they will be able to replicate.  We are doing their bidding by reproducing, thus passing them on to the next generation.  In this context, the role of humans and the purpose of our lives are to be a good carrier of genes and a good mate so that we are able to reproduce offspring.   A purposeful life is created when a person is able to leave a legacy of their genes behind before they die. 

  Using the selfish gene theory as a definition for a purposeful life, we can look at its application towards adoption.  If someone chooses not to reproduce but to adopt they are not going to leave their legacy of genes behind.  Could their life be considered purposeless?  Or could their genes be flawed.  Maybe their gene is telling them not to reproduce because the gene is flawed in some way.  Thus by not reproducing that flawed gene will be eliminated from the gene pool.  So this is good for the welfare of the gene pool as a whole.   

If humans are destined to be carriers of genes, do we have free will?  Yes, we do have free will in the context of our actions, but in the case of the purpose of our lives, I don’t really think so.  If we die, the only thing that will live on is the legacy of our genes we have left behind.  Humans could leave a historical legacy behind (ex: winning the Nobel Prize) but historical records could be destroyed and oral history can easily become extinct when no one remembers the accomplishment.  What is lasting and concrete is the genes you replicated to survive another generation.  We must reproduce to make our lives purposeful.  Of course, you will always have the free will to not participate in this game of gene replication but your legacy ends there.