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SUMMARY:The Evolution of Morality - Dr David Lahti\, Assistant Professor o
 f Biology and the Undergraduate Research Coordinator at Queens College\, C
 ity University of New York
DTSTART:20111115T130000Z
DTEND:20111115T140000Z
UID:TALK33741@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:25203
DESCRIPTION:Are we humans essentially altruistic beings whose natural stat
 e is to care for others?  Or are we ogres at heart\, our moral codes the o
 nly thing holding us back from utter selfishness?  A tour through the evol
 utionary history of morality and its precursors suggests a third alternati
 ve--that we are neither angel nor beast\, but are by nature moral struggle
 rs and deliberators.  We are not programmed for altruism nor selfishness\,
  but rather have influences in both of these directions\, along with a ref
 ined ability to assess our social environments and make informed decisions
 .  Humans tend to make moral decisions on the basis of two main variables:
  the anticipated effects of our behavior on our reputation\, and the perce
 ived stability of the social groups on which we depend.  Moreover\, the pa
 rt of human nature we call morality is actually a conglomerate of tendenci
 es and capacities\, some of which are millions of years old and others jus
 t thousands.  Many of its more recent features\, including moral rules tha
 t are difficult for us to follow\, are cultural surrogates for adaptation 
 in an age when our social environments are changing too fast for us to ada
 pt genetically to them.  In the end\, although we have inherited the tools
  of the moral trade and several important biases\, the goals of our lives 
 and the significance we place on morality and goodness are up to us.
LOCATION:Garden Room\, Library Building\, St. Edmund’s College
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