Phidippus sp.
Jared Diamond: What if Darwin had died in childbirth at birth?
I recently listened to Jared Diamond interviewed on an episode of The Michael Shermer Show: How Much Can One Person Change History? Diamond is probably best known for his book Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I had read when it came out. His newest book, published this fall, is Profits, Prophets, Coaches, and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? The content of the book is well summarized in the Shermer Show and also reflected accurately in the titles. That said, when someone as bright as Diamond wonders about Darwin, I have to take notice, so I picked up the book and read it, followed by three reviews, in the Times, the Guardian, and the Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail article was favorable, the Guardian article mixed, and the Times article properly critical but sometimes perhaps a bit catty.
Before we get to Darwin, let us back up a little bit and discuss what Diamond calls the Hamlet test.
Tradescantia pallida
Photograph by David Young.
When smart people believe stupid things
![[Three wise monkeys]](/uploads/2026/Three_wise_monkeys_figure.JPG)
often called the Three Wise Monkeys. who neither hear, see or speak evil. Image posted by
Joe Felsenstein, who asks whether the people discussed in this article believe that
they are being wise.
A penpal of mine, Scott Goodman, recently asked the following question:
What is the psychology behind contrarian belief systems? Having been involved in this now for some 30 years, I have concluded, as have others, that this phenomenon of latching on to a nonsense belief and defending it to the death against all reason is, at its root, psychologically and emotionally driven. And it certainly isn’t limited to creationism. Across the board, from climate change denial to anti-vaccine hysteria to insisting that elections are rigged, I believe the same thing is at work. Consider the characteristics:
- Impervious to facts or logic. The facts simply must be wrong.
- A desire to focus on the best and most robust scientific (or political) explanations.
- Along with that, attacking the most prominent scientists; Darwin, Einstein, etc.
- And several other characteristics that one might describe.
I throw this out to the group because it might point to finding more effective ways of combatting all of this nonsense. Clearly, facts are water off a duck’s back to creationists and other science deniers. They have a mental force field to keep facts and logic out. To me the question becomes, “What is the emotional payoff for this behaviour?” It appears to be overwhelming and compelling for those who adopt this way of thinking.
Not exactly a salmon
August, 2026. Seek, by iNaturalist, identified it as Oncorhynchus nerka – sockeye salmon.
Clearly it is not that. Is it some kind of algae? See below the fold ....