The Replicators

This second chapter of ¨The Selfish Gene¨ is a little bit shorter than last chapter, but I found it more complex and difficult to understand the point Dawkins was debating. The first thing that confused me, was a term used in the first sentences of the chapter. ¨In the beginning was simplicity.¨ SIMPLICITY. The dictionary definition for this term is: the quality or condition of being easy to understand or do. After continue on reading through the chapter, I found again the word simplicity and I was able to adapt that definition to the context of this chapter.

Why are people?

This next book we are reading is called ¨The Selfish Gene¨ and is written by Richard Dawkins. aparently, this book is totally different from what we have already read in class and it calls my attention becasue the topic is not very common and is even less common in our context. You never think about why we behave how we do and were does all those behaviors come from. well I think many of these questions are going to be answered by Richard in this book.

Until now, I find very interesting reading the selfish gene because until know and by reading the first chapter I realize that most of the things you do and in almost all the cases your behavior, are controled by your genes and ¨natural infrastructure¨. I found this a very complex reading and most of the terms I dont know their meaning, but this I think will help me to learn more about this topic and leading me to investigate certain terms and certain biological body components.
Altruism: doing things for the good of the species or group.
Selfish: doing things for personal benefit in the face of the good of the group.
Its interesting how he defines these two words as in a behavioral context and not a subjective context of the person or group.

Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing

QUOTING. According to the author, the crisis is not present in all schools. "Private schools have no such problem. They can fail or dismiss students, knowing such students can attend public school"(Page #).

SUMMARY. In this essay, Roger Sipher is argumenting why schools should get rid of the attendance laws. He tries to make a point on the mandatory attendance for students that are not really interesting in learning, therefore the students that are interested in learning are being interrupted by those who dont. By abolishing these laws, sais roger, not only schools would no longer loose money, but students progress would be reflected on their grades and these grades are probably going to show a higer average than it did before when students not interested continued to be part of the education program.

PARAPHRASING. Roger states in one of the paragraphs that school is not a place were children go to spend some time out of their houses and a place were there are some teachers incharge of them and taking care of them. In stead, roger sais, is a place were people interested in learning can go and use their time wisely without being interrupted by those who dont find a meaning for learning and for the importance of education.