> Not quite as important as you're making it, though.
> But yes, given a culture with set of beliefs, the majority of the next generation is going to keep those default settings as their own.
That seems quite important to me.
> But we aren't robots rolling off an assembly line.
Correct. Human genetics entails that children are not exact duplicates of their parents. Even "identical" twins are not 100% identical with their siblings. However...
> We can change those settings away from the default. This is one of the most important choices for young adults - what are you going to keep from your parents, and what are you going to change?
I'd say there are two general competing theories of human behavior:
1) It's a combination of "nature" and "nurture".
2) It's a combination of "nature", "nurture", and "free will".
I don't believe in the philosophical/religious notion of free will. Thus, I don't put much ethical significance on the concept of "choice". As a practical matter, yes, some kids choose to go against the teachings of their family, friends, and community. Some people are naturally iconoclasts; you might say they're born into that role. But I don't think that makes them "better" people, just different. You can't choose your genes or environment any more than you can choose your parents. You don't choose to be born with a disability, right? Likewise, you don't choose to be born with a special ability either.
> But yes, given a culture with set of beliefs, the majority of the next generation is going to keep those default settings as their own.
That seems quite important to me.
> But we aren't robots rolling off an assembly line.
Correct. Human genetics entails that children are not exact duplicates of their parents. Even "identical" twins are not 100% identical with their siblings. However...
> We can change those settings away from the default. This is one of the most important choices for young adults - what are you going to keep from your parents, and what are you going to change?
I'd say there are two general competing theories of human behavior:
1) It's a combination of "nature" and "nurture".
2) It's a combination of "nature", "nurture", and "free will".
I don't believe in the philosophical/religious notion of free will. Thus, I don't put much ethical significance on the concept of "choice". As a practical matter, yes, some kids choose to go against the teachings of their family, friends, and community. Some people are naturally iconoclasts; you might say they're born into that role. But I don't think that makes them "better" people, just different. You can't choose your genes or environment any more than you can choose your parents. You don't choose to be born with a disability, right? Likewise, you don't choose to be born with a special ability either.