7. What do you mean by "tribal" propensities and "wisdom" potential?

Based on a careful scrutiny of human behavior it is my belief that human beings have within them a number of behavior patterns that come out of our early primate genes, our "tribal," or "clan" propensities. These behavior patterns had survival value in those ancient times. However, today they are the ticking time bombs that could destroy not only our species, but most other life from the surface of this planet.

 Among these "tribal" propensities are: belief in magic and the power of wishing, a territorial imperative, us vs. them feelings, scapegoating, and dominance/submission behavior. Although, all of these propensities are utilized by most folk religions, the primary one is the belief in magic and the power of wishing. Also, I believe this is the propensity that maintained our species from the time we achieved the language ability up to the present time.

When our language ability evolved to some critical point symbolic communication using all the modules of our brain became possible. This state is not available to any other species. At this point we achieved the ability to become the "symbolic species" with a "wisdom" potential. [This idea incorporates the thoughts of Terrence W. Deacon's book, THE SYMBOLIC SPECIES, Norton, New York, 1997; and Steven Mithen's, "THE PREHISTORY OF THE MIND: The Cognitive Origins of Art and Science," Thames and Hudson, New York, 1996.] The essence of this potential is the possibility for individuals to judge the value of their life independent from the genetic imperative to: eat, reproduce, die. Individuals were then provided with the potential to decide that life is not worth living and, thereby, end their life without reproducing. Persons at this point gained the capability to evaluate the quality of their life independent of their society, instincts, and reflex actions. Since that time humanity has been engaged in the process of creating itself out of its genetic heritage by selecting those things to value which produce long-term satisfaction versus immediate gratification. We can plan for the future not just prepare for the future by following instinctual genetic programming.

In recent decades science, philosophy, and modern life in general have provided adequate knowledge and experience to make it possible to understand how to complete this process. This is the essence of a what a science of ethics would clarify. Humanity is now ready to move on to fulfill the destiny made possible by our language ability. This is such an exciting development it overshadows every other achievement made throughout our long history -- even though without them we would not have reached this exalted level.

Does a science of ethics have anything to say about "free will"/determinism?