Ah – human beings. Yes, women are human beings, more darling than we in many ways, but also with their deficits – the most profound being, due to their inherently enhanced self-centeredness, a lack of a sense of justice. That there are contrary examples does not, as in a scientific experiment, refute the general validity of this fact and its consequences. As in the apparent paradox noted by Adam Smith, the self-centeredness redounds to group cohesion and group advantage, notably in the case of children and their care; with respect to individual interactions, however, it is a bit of a thorn. It is probably beyond my powers of eloquence to convince anyone that this is an observation rather than an accusation, but among the rebuttals I could make would be: Pride and Prejudice is a *horrible* book evincing all the weaknesses inherent in the self-centeredness of the author’s sex, and the biblical treachery to which I referred was not Adam’s betrayal of the commandment, but Eve’s. Adam answered for himself, as you also read. The point is the voice of the author Dr. Helen – a wonderful woman! – cites is not merely explained by marketing prudence. I know it, and you know it. Nor is it explained merely by the predominance of a recent ideology parrotted by insufficiently self-critical proponents. There are human beings, but there are differences among human beings, individuals and groups. Women are more self-centered. It is true that popularity confers legitimacy among all human beings, but to the degree that individuals deviate from such generalizations, women deviate less. It is a matter of degree, of course. Probably everyone knows men who are possessed by extravagant egotism justified by very little, or nothing at all. But I’ll stop, since I’m sure you probably have stopped reading.
