Three books explore these innate human traits.
What is morality? Where does it come from? According to neurophilosopher Patricia S. Churchland in her book Braintrust (Princeton University Press, 2011), morality originates in the brain. She argues that over time the human brain evolved to feel social pain and pleasure. As humans evolved to care about the well-being of others, they also developed a sense of morality.
Robert Kurzban believes that we are all hypocrites. But not to worry, he explains, hypocrisy is the natural state of the human mind. In his book Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind (Princeton University Press, 2011), Kurzban asserts that the human mind consists of many specialized units, which do not always work together seamlessly. When this harmony breaks down, people often develop contradictory beliefs.
How is consciousness possible? In Soul Dust: The Magic of Consciousness (Princeton University Press, 2011), psychologist Nicholas Humphrey, a leading figure in consciousness research, proposes a startling new theory. Consciousness, he argues, is merely a magic show we stage inside our heads. This show has allowed humans to become aware of themselves and their surroundings.
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Add CommentMorals ( from Latin MORES) and ethics (from Greek:ethica) are etymologically explained simply as:habits and manners!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo this shows that our moral habits and ethical manners -evolved over the times, together with our socialization process (from ANIMAL SOCIALE, meaning, a social animal, thanks to Aristotle's: zo-on politi-con).
Ours is not unlike, I daresay, the sociable behaviour of the Bonobos ((Pan panisco), who are, by comparison, much more mild-mannered than their cousins ,of the Pan Troglodytes variety, who are prone to much more wild and unruly behaviour patterns, showing more aggressiveness,- perhaps due to more environmental stress from having to compete with gorillas for living space.
It's interesting to draw parallels from our own human civilization breakdown experience of killing fields ; cf. Bosnia..
When it comes to war crimes, consciousness can become a rare commodity again!
How is the theory of a magic show in our heads "New"?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe zen masters have been telling us this for over 2,000 years.
And laughing heartily at the illusion that we create.
3 new books on the reading list. Thanks Victoria Stern and thanks Sci Am!
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