THE NEW SCIENCE OF MORALITY

[leckysupport]

Edge: THE NEW SCIENCE OF MORALITY

Pro-tip: Scroll down.

Something radically new is in the air: new ways of understanding physical systems, new ways of thinking about thinking that call into question many of our basic assumptions. A realistic biology of the mind, advances in evolutionary biology, physics, information technology, genetics, neurobiology, psychology, engineering, the chemistry of materials: all are questions of critical importance with respect to what it means to be human. For the first time, we have the tools and the will to undertake the scientific study of human nature.
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[Beautiful sky]

I was contemplating the origins of morality and I think that to "guilt" someone into doing things actually may have strengthened the group. For example, to guilt someone in the group not to kill someone because it's "wrong" may have kept more people "together" in a group of humans and they would have had a better chance of survival against fighting with other humans. It may have actually made humans more human, less like animals and more "advanced"; And, what's interesting is that the "weaker" more skinnyish members of the human population, the N types, are more likely to exercise these gentle coercing to do "good/bad" then the stronger S types, further not only insuring their own survival (being the weaker more fragile of the species) among a group of humans but balancing this more physical aspects of our nature (to hunt/kill/find food etc.); food for thought, but thank you for the article. Great stuff.

I love the Edge questions and I read all of their books, the compilation of their annual questions.

[leckysupport]

thank you for the article. Great stuff.

No problem. There are also hours of video along with transcripts just in case anyone misses them.

I love the Edge questions and I read all of their books, the compilation of their annual questions.

Edge.org <3

[leckysupport]

Continuation:

A SENSE OF CLEANLINESS

http://edge.org/3rd_culture/schnall1...l10_index.html

[SyrupDeGem]

Bumping this thread as it seems an interesting topic. Just skim read article at present but this stuck out to me

"The failure of science to address questions of meaning, morality, and values, notes neuroscientist Sam Harris, has become the primary justification for religious faith. In doubting our ability to address questions of meaning and morality through rational argument and scientific inquiry, we offer a mandate to religious dogmatism, superstition, and sectarian conflict. The greater the doubt, the greater the impetus to nurture divisive delusions. [More]"