The science of good and evil : why people cheat, gossip, care, share, and follow the golden rule

From bestselling author Michael Shermer, an investigation of the evolution of morality that is "a paragon of popularized science and philosophy" The Sun (Baltimore)A century and a half after Darwin first proposed an "evolutionary ethics," science has begun to tackle the roots of morality. Just as evolutionary biologists study why we are hungry (to motivate us to eat) or why sex is enjoyable (to motivate us to procreate), they are now searching for the very nature of humanity.In __The Science of Good and Evil__, science historian Michael Shermer explores how humans evolved from social primates to moral primates; how and why morality motivates the human animal; and how the foundation of moral principles can be built upon empirical evidence. Along the way he explains the implications of scientific findings for fate and free will, the existence of pure good and pure evil, and the development of early moral sentiments among the first humans. As he closes the divide between science and morality, Shermer draws on stories from the Yanamamö, infamously known as the "fierce people" of the tropical rain forest, to the Stanford studies on jailers' behavior in prisons. __The Science of Good and Evil__ is ultimately a profound look at the moral animal, belief, and the scientific pursuit of truth.

from Bestselling Author Michael Shermer, An Investigation Of The Evolution Of Morality That Is A Paragon Of Popularized Science And Philosophy The Sun (baltimore)

a Century And A Half After Darwin First Proposed An Evolutionary Ethics, Science Has Begun To Tackle The Roots Of Morality. Just As Evolutionary Biologists Study Why We Are Hungry (to Motivate Us To Eat) Or Why Sex Is Enjoyable (to Motivate Us To Procreate), They Are Now Searching For The Very Nature Of Humanity.

in the Science Of Good And Evil, Science Historian Michael Shermer Explores How Humans Evolved From Social Primates To Moral Primates; How And Why Morality Motivates The Human Animal; And How The Foundation Of Moral Principles Can Be Built Upon Empirical Evidence.

along The Way He Explains The Implications Of Scientific Findings For Fate And Free Will, The Existence Of Pure Good And Pure Evil, And The Development Of Early Moral Sentiments Among The First Humans. As He Closes The Divide Between Science And Morality, Shermer Draws On Stories From The Yanamamö, Infamously Known As The Fierce People Of The Tropical Rain Forest, To The Stanford Studies On Jailers' Behavior In Prisons. the Science Of Good And Evil Is Ultimately A Profound Look At The Moral Animal, Belief, And The Scientific Pursuit Of Truth.

publishers Weekly

drawing On Evolutionary Psychology, Skeptic Publisher And Scientific American Contributor Shermer (why People Believe Weird Things) Argues That The Sources Of Moral Behavior Can Be Traced Scientifically To Humanity's Evolutionary Origins. He Contends That Human Morality Evolved As First An Individual And Then A Species-wide Mechanism For Survival. As Society Evolved, Humans Needed Rules Governing Behavior-e.g., Altruism, Sympathy, Reciprocity And Community Concern-in Order To Ensure Survival. Shermer Says That Some Form Of The Golden Rule-do Unto Others As You Would Have Others Do Unto You-provides The Foundation Of Morality In Human Societies. Out Of This, He Develops The Principles Of What He Calls A Provisional Ethics That Is Neither Absolute Nor Relative, That Applies To Most People Most Of The Time, While Allowing For Tolerance And Diversity. According To The Ask-first Principle, For Instance, The Performer Of An Act Simply Asks Its Intended Receiver Whether The Act Is Right Or Wrong. Other Principles Include The Happiness Principle (always Seek Happiness With Someone Else's Happiness In Mind), The Liberty Principle (always Seek Liberty With Someone Else's Liberty In Mind) And The Moderation Principle (when Innocent People Die, Extremism In The Defense Of Anything Is No Virtue, And Moderation In The Protection Of Everything Is No Vice). Shermer's Provisional Ethics Might Reflect The Messy Ways That Human Moral Behavior Developed, But His Simplistic Principles Establish A Utilitarian Calculus That Not Everyone Will Find Acceptable. 35 B&w Illus. Agents, Katinka Matson And John Brockman. (feb. 2) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

From bestselling author Michael Shermer, an investigation of the evolution of morality that is "a paragon of popularized science and philosophy" The Sun (Baltimore) A century and a half after Darwin first proposed an "evolutionary ethics," science has begun to tackle the roots of morality. Just as evolutionary biologists study why we are hungry (to motivate us to eat) or why sex is enjoyable (to motivate us to procreate), they are now searching for the very nature of humanity. In The Science of Good and Evil, science historian Michael Shermer explores how humans evolved from social primates to moral primates; how and why morality motivates the human animal; and how the foundation of moral principles can be built upon empirical evidence. Along the way he explains the implications of scientific findings for fate and free will, the existence of pure good and pure evil, and the development of early moral sentiments among the first humans. As he closes the divide between science and morality, Shermer draws on stories from the Yanamamouml;, infamously known as the "fierce people" of the tropical rain forest, to the Stanford studies on jailers' behavior in prisons. The Science of Good and Evil is ultimately a profound look at the moral animal, belief, and the scientific pursuit of truth Prologue : one long argument The origins of morality: Transcendent morality : how evolution ennobles ethics ; Why we are moral : the evolutionary origins of morality ; Why we are immoral : war, violence, and the ignoble savage within ; Master of my fate : making moral choices in a determined universe A science of provisional ethics: Can we be good without God? : science, religion, and morality ; How we are moral : absolute, relative, and provisional ethics ; How we are immoral : right and wrong and how to tell the difference ; Rise above : tolerance, freedom, and the prospects for humanity Appendix I: The devil under form of baboon : the evolution of evolutionary ethics Appendix II: Moral and religious universals as a subset of human universals. Explores how humans evolved from social primates into moral primates, how and why morality motivates the human animal, and how the foundation of moral principles can be built upon empirical evidence. Explains the implications of scientific findings for the fate and free will, the existence of pure good and pure evil, and the development of early moral sentiments among the first humans In one of the most starkly honest and existentially penetrating statements ever made by a scientist, Oxford University evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins opined that "the universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference." Reveals how humans have evolved from social primates into moral primates, exploring the implications of fuzzy logic, fate, free will, and ecology, among other issues affecting the way humans think about moral issues