JRE #1673 – Colin Wright

25-Jun-21

This podcast features a fascinating discussion with Colin Wright, a biologist and Managing Editor of “Quillette”, a magazine dedicated to freethought. He is also the founder of “Reality’s Last Stand,” a publication and newsletter exploring the debate around sex and gender. The conversation dives deep into the current cultural landscape, touching on controversial topics like the sex and gender debate, the rise of woke culture, cancel culture, and the implications of these movements on science and society. Throughout the discussion, Colin unravels the underlying themes of binary thinking, the erosion of truth, the role of language in shaping reality, and the dangers of hyper-focus on identity.

Podcast Topics:

1. Distilled Mead:
   • Colin shares his experience making distilled mead, a unique and complex spirit crafted from fermented honey.
   • He describes the process of making mead and distilling it using a copper pot still.
   • The discussion highlights the intricate nature of honey production and the artisanal craft of mead making.
   • Colin’s mead is a hundred proof, reflecting the strength and potency of this homemade spirit.
2. The Sex and Gender Debate:
   • Colin asserts that there are only two biological sexes, male and female, and that sex is not a spectrum.
   • He critiques the idea of “sex as a social construct” and argues that biological sex is a stable biological category based on reproductive anatomy and gametes.
   • The discussion touches on the complexities of intersex individuals and the misconception that their existence proves sex is a spectrum.
   • Colin highlights the role of queer theory and critical theory in promoting the notion of sex as a social construct, leading to a blurring of boundaries between sex and gender.
3. Transgender Women in Sports:
   • The debate on transgender women competing in female sports is a major point of contention, with Colin arguing against their inclusion based on biological advantages.
   • He cites scientific studies demonstrating that testosterone suppression does not fully eliminate the performance gap between biological males and females, even after years of hormone therapy.
   • Colin emphasizes that female sports were designed to ensure fair competition among biological females, and the inclusion of transgender women undermines this principle.
   • The discussion delves into the concept of fairness in sports, arguing that it should be measured against potential performance without performance-enhancing substances, rather than relative to other athletes.
4. The Rise of Woke Culture:
   • Colin traces the origins of woke culture to the social justice movement within atheism, specifically citing the “elevator gate” incident involving Richard Dawkins and Rebecca Watson.
   • He argues that woke culture has infiltrated various institutions, including universities and the media, leading to a chilling effect on free speech and dissenting viewpoints.
   • Colin attributes the rise of woke culture to an aversion to the concept of discrimination and a pervasive critical theory mindset that seeks to deconstruct binaries and challenge traditional power structures.
   • He expresses concern about the aggressive and intolerant nature of woke culture, which often resorts to shaming and canceling those who hold different views.
5. The Language of Gender Identity:
   • Colin discusses the evolution of language surrounding gender identity, from the distinction between sex and gender to the conflation of the two.
   • He critiques the use of “sex assigned at birth” as a replacement for biological sex, arguing that it undermines the reality of biological difference.
   • The discussion explores the concept of non-binary gender identity and the challenges it poses to traditional understandings of sex and gender.
   • Colin highlights the dangers of hyper-focus on identity and the potential for it to lead to a breakdown of societal structures.
6. The Gender Bread Person:
   • Colin criticizes the “Gender Bread Person” diagram, a widely used visual representation of gender identity that conflates biological sex with secondary sex characteristics and cultural expressions of gender.
   • He argues that the diagram promotes harmful misconceptions about sex and gender, potentially leading to bullying and the validation of harmful stereotypes.
   • Colin uses an analogy of bikers and cyclists to illustrate the difference between primary sex characteristics (the “motorcycle” or “bicycle”) and secondary sex characteristics (the “gear” or “attire”).
   • He emphasizes that the diagram is not just “wrong” but also deceptive, promoting a false and overly simplistic understanding of sex and gender.
7. Cancel Culture:
   • Colin discusses the prevalence of cancel culture, highlighting the often-unreported instances of individuals being ostracized or silenced for expressing dissenting viewpoints.
   • He criticizes the double standard of cancel culture, where prominent individuals with large platforms are often protected while those with less visibility are vulnerable.
   • Colin explores the role of social media in facilitating cancel culture, allowing for the rapid spread of attacks and the mobilization of online mobs.
   • He expresses concern about the potential for cancel culture to erode democracy and freedom of expression, leading to a chilling effect on intellectual discourse and open debate.
8. The Impact of Woke Culture on Science:
   • Colin describes the challenges he has faced as a scientist who holds dissenting views on sex and gender, including being targeted with online harassment and attempts to damage his career.
   • He discusses the growing influence of woke ideology within scientific institutions, including the requirement of diversity, equity, and inclusion statements for job applications and research funding.
   • Colin argues that the focus on surface-level diversity over ideological diversity in science is detrimental to intellectual freedom and open inquiry.
   • He expresses concern about the potential for woke culture to stifle scientific progress by limiting the exploration of controversial and challenging topics.
9. The Role of Religion and Meaning Making:
   • Colin reflects on the decline of religion and the potential for it to create a void in meaning for individuals.
   • He suggests that the hyper-focus on identity in woke culture may be a response to the lack of meaning found in traditional religious systems.
   • Colin encourages individuals to minimize their identification with beliefs and ideologies, instead focusing on exploring ideas and challenging assumptions.
   • He emphasizes the importance of intellectual humility and the willingness to change one’s mind based on evidence.
10. The Influence of Psychedelics:
    • Colin shares his experiences with psychedelics, including mushrooms and DMT, and discusses their potential to alter perceptions and lead to profound insights.
    • He acknowledges the potential for psychedelics to challenge the boundaries of reality and lead to a questioning of traditional beliefs.
    • The discussion touches on the role of psychedelics in various religious traditions and their potential connection to enlightenment and spiritual experiences.
    • Colin expresses interest in Kundalini yoga, which is believed by some to induce DMT-like states and promote spiritual awakening.
11. The UFO Phenomenon:
    • Colin discusses the current UFO phenomenon, acknowledging the increasing evidence of unidentified aerial phenomena and the government’s inability to explain them.
    • He considers the possibility of advanced technology developed by humans, potentially beyond public knowledge, as a possible explanation for the observed phenomena.
    • Colin acknowledges the allure of the extraterrestrial explanation but emphasizes the importance of skepticism and the need for evidence.
    • The discussion explores the vastness of the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but also raises the question of why such life hasn’t yet made contact with humanity.
12. The Importance of Science Communication:
    • Colin highlights the vital role of science communicators like Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson in engaging the public with science and inspiring curiosity.
    • He acknowledges the stigma faced by popularizers of science, who are sometimes dismissed as not being “real scientists” despite their contributions to education and outreach.
    • Colin emphasizes the need for effective science communication to counter misinformation and promote a greater understanding of scientific concepts.
    • He argues that without strong science communicators, the void will be filled by those who promote pseudoscience and conspiracy theories.
13. The Future of Universities:
    • Colin expresses concern about the capture of universities by woke ideology, leading to a lack of intellectual diversity and the suppression of dissenting viewpoints.
    • He discusses the rise of diversity, equity, and inclusion statements as a political litmus test for hiring and promotion within academia.
    • Colin argues that the emphasis on surface-level diversity over ideological diversity is detrimental to the core purpose of universities, which is to encourage open inquiry and critical thinking.
    • He acknowledges the need for alternative institutions that prioritize free speech and intellectual freedom, citing the example of Ralston College.
14. The Political Landscape:
    • Colin discusses the current political landscape, noting the growing divide between left and right and the difficulty of finding common ground.
    • He observes that the right wing has become more open to diverse viewpoints while the left has become increasingly intolerant of dissent.
    • Colin shares his own political journey, highlighting how his views have shifted from left to centrist due to the extremism of woke culture.
    • He discusses the potential for a shift in the political landscape, with the rise of centrist voices and a growing awareness of the dangers of wokeness.
15. The Nature of Truth:
    • Colin challenges the notion of “relative truth” promoted by woke ideology, arguing for the existence of objective truth based on evidence and reason.
    • He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the need to challenge assumptions and biases.
    • The discussion delves into the dangers of infantilizing individuals and preventing them from developing critical thinking skills.
    • Colin encourages a return to the principles of the Enlightenment, where reason and evidence are valued above ideology and dogma.

5 Memorable Quotes:

1. “It’s something I’ve been tracking for quite some time, like a bounty hunter?” – Colin Wright’s humorous self-description of his pursuit of understanding the ideological shifts within society.
2. “There’s clearly a spectrum inside each two sexes. Right?” – Colin’s acknowledgment of variation within each sex while maintaining the core biological distinction.
3. “And then I know you’ve had people like James Lindsay on and they talk about just the critical theory, the queer theory that’s out there where it’s just meant to just pick apart anything. Anytime there’s a binary, they need to deconstruct it and deconstruct it.” – Colin’s insightful commentary on the deconstructive nature of critical theory.
4. “It’s just, like, it keeps getting weirder and weirder and weirder. So I think he keeps pushing the envelope about what it means. There’s no one to put on the brakes really.” – Colin’s observation of the ongoing escalation of woke ideology.
5. “That’s why I’m doing my best to not let it get past this final levy. I mean, honestly, it could go to just complete chaos. Like, what do what do you do people identifying as different ages and animals and … Well, we’ve tried.” – Colin’s poignant expression of his mission to defend against the erosion of reason and reality.