Modern Times

Well, the causes of disatisfaction with modern, rationalised work patterns are largely biological. We’re encouraging people to adapt to exciting new techniques that our palaeolithic ancestors simply weren’t designed for. And here I feel bound to disagree with Dr Douce’s earlier comments. Recent work in evolutionary psychology and genetics has transformed our understanding of human personality and particularly of antisocial behaviour. We have now positively identified genes for aggression, autism, alcoholism, shyness, homosexuality, greed, envy, femininity, laziness, and many other conditions, and can confidently map the origin of these genes in those structures of primitive society which still underlie our own apparently sophisticated veneer. Rowdiness, rage, dyslexia, dissidence, ADD, and other personality disorders are now very much seen as potentially treatable conditions and much of our work here is progressing to help the unfortunate victims of suchlike. Of course our work never ends in a sense; thus we’ve solved the smoking problem more or less, but the growing epidemic of snuff-taking is a threat of terrifying proportions.