The Lost World (Jurassic Park, #2)

by Michael Crichton

As one questioner had pompously phrased it, “The Cretaceous allowed our own sentient awareness to arise on the planet.” Malcolm’s reply was immediate: “What makes you think human beings are sentient and aware? There’s no evidence for it. Human beings never think for themselves, they find it too uncomfortable. For the most part, members of our species simply repeat what they are told—and become upset if they are exposed to any different view. The characteristic human trait is not awareness but conformity, and the characteristic result is religious warfare. Other animals fight for territory or food; but, uniquely in the animal kingdom, human beings fight for their ‘beliefs.’ The reason is that beliefs guide behavior, which has evolutionary importance among human beings. But at a time when our behavior may well lead us to extinction, I see no reason to assume we have any awareness at all. We are stubborn, self-destructive conformists. Any other view of our species is just a self-congratulatory delusion. Next question.”

absence of proof is not proof of absence.

“I’m not interested in dinosaurs,” Malcolm said. “But everyone is interested in dinosaurs.” “Not me.”

“Ian,” she said, looking at him. “This sincerity is not like you.” “It’ll pass,” he said, and smiled a little.

“You’re too old to act like an asshole,”

Levine went over and sat with Malcolm. Levine said, “Well, at least we were right about one thing. This island was a true lost world—a pristine, untouched ecology.