Disillusioned - Larry Niven (one of my favourite sci-fi authors) was/is a raging racist POS

[melm00se]

16. Yes

but it was a plot device. The kzin (the race in question) manipulated their genetics to maximize their "heroic" qualities as those are what are valued by their society.

But this focus on maximizing the heroic also acts as a major societal flaw. The Kzinti race believes that the less certain of victory they are, the more heroic they are if/when they win. This leads the Kzinti to attack before they are ready and, in universe, this leads to their losses to the Humans.

In this context Niven is not celebrating this genetic manipulation evolution but pointing out the dangers and trade offs of doing it.