On Atheists and Bonobos
A Conversation with Frans de Waal
Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Nature, Animals, Apes & Monkeys, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Anthropology, Sociology
| Author: | Howard Burton | ISBN: | 1230000199315 |
| Publisher: | Ideas Roadshow | Publication: | November 27, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Language: | English |
| Author: | Howard Burton |
| ISBN: | 1230000199315 |
| Publisher: | Ideas Roadshow |
| Publication: | November 27, 2013 |
| Imprint: | |
| Language: | English |
Everyday we are confronted with choices; most are relatively mundane, but occasionally we must carefully weigh different options and struggle to determine “good” from “bad”, and “right” from “wrong”. These notions emanate from, and are influenced by a system of values, a system of morality.
But are we born with an innate sense of “the good”? Do we learn from others what is “wrong”? Does religion determine, or is it a result of, morality?
The key to answering these questions, says primatologist Frans de Waal, lies with our closest ancestors: the great apes. In the nearly 40 years he’s been studying primates, Frans has witnessed first hand conflict resolution, cooperation, food sharing and many other behaviours which he believes are evidence for the bottom-up development of morality and the evolution of religion.
We met with Frans at Emory University to discuss bonobos, atheism, and morality.
Everyday we are confronted with choices; most are relatively mundane, but occasionally we must carefully weigh different options and struggle to determine “good” from “bad”, and “right” from “wrong”. These notions emanate from, and are influenced by a system of values, a system of morality.
But are we born with an innate sense of “the good”? Do we learn from others what is “wrong”? Does religion determine, or is it a result of, morality?
The key to answering these questions, says primatologist Frans de Waal, lies with our closest ancestors: the great apes. In the nearly 40 years he’s been studying primates, Frans has witnessed first hand conflict resolution, cooperation, food sharing and many other behaviours which he believes are evidence for the bottom-up development of morality and the evolution of religion.
We met with Frans at Emory University to discuss bonobos, atheism, and morality.
