Description
Discover 'Braintrust' by Patricia Churchland, a groundbreaking exploration of morality's origins rooted in neurobiology. This thought-provoking book tackles profound questions: What is morality? Where does it originate? Why do we adhere to moral principles? As a neurophilosophy pioneer, Churchland presents compelling arguments that morality emerges from the biological makeup of the brain, shaped by both evolutionary influences and cultural values. By examining the 'neurobiological platform of bonding,' she delves into the foundational aspects of human moral behavior, urging readers to rethink the emphasis placed on religion, absolute moral rules, and sheer rationality when discussing morality.
In 'Braintrust,' you'll uncover how moral values are intertwined with our instincts to nurture. Churchland emphasizes that the evolutionary structures of the brain compel us towards caring behaviors, beginning with our offspring and extending to partners, relatives, and even wider communities. The emotional experiences central to morality—pain from separation and joy from connection—are deeply embedded in our neurological circuitry, adjusting according to the customs of our societies. Key insights about oxytocin are provided, illustrating its role in fostering trust and community bonds, essential elements of any moral framework. By illuminating these connections, 'Braintrust' offers transformative insights into both individual morality and collective social structures. Each page compels you to question the very foundation of what we consider moral action.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW, ISBN: 9780691180977, Format: Trade paperback (US), Year: 2018, Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691180977
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
What is morality? Where does it come from? And why do most of us heed its call most of the time? In Braintrust, neurophilosophy pioneer Patricia Churchland argues that morality originates in the biology of the brain. She describes the "neurobiological platform of bonding" that, modified by evolutionary pressures and cultural values, has led to human styles of moral behavior. The result is a provocative genealogy of morals that asks us to reevaluate the priority given to religion, absolute rules, and pure reason in accounting for the basis of morality.
Moral values, Churchland argues, are rooted in a behavior common to all mammals--the caring for offspring. The evolved structure, processes, and chemistry of the brain incline humans to strive not only for self-preservation but for the well-being of allied selves--first offspring, then mates, kin, and so on, in wider and wider "caring" circles. Separation and exclusion cause pain, and the company of loved ones causes pleasure; responding to feelings of social pain and pleasure, brains adjust their circuitry to local customs. In this way, caring is apportioned, conscience molded, and moral intuitions instilled. A key part of the story is oxytocin, an ancient body-and-brain molecule that, by decreasing the stress response, allows humans to develop the trust in one another necessary for the development of close-knit ties, social institutions, and morality.
A major new account of what really makes us moral, Braintrust challenges us to reconsider the origins of some of our most cherished values.
In 'Braintrust,' you'll uncover how moral values are intertwined with our instincts to nurture. Churchland emphasizes that the evolutionary structures of the brain compel us towards caring behaviors, beginning with our offspring and extending to partners, relatives, and even wider communities. The emotional experiences central to morality—pain from separation and joy from connection—are deeply embedded in our neurological circuitry, adjusting according to the customs of our societies. Key insights about oxytocin are provided, illustrating its role in fostering trust and community bonds, essential elements of any moral framework. By illuminating these connections, 'Braintrust' offers transformative insights into both individual morality and collective social structures. Each page compels you to question the very foundation of what we consider moral action.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled. Condition: BRAND NEW, ISBN: 9780691180977, Format: Trade paperback (US), Year: 2018, Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780691180977
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2018
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Description:
What is morality? Where does it come from? And why do most of us heed its call most of the time? In Braintrust, neurophilosophy pioneer Patricia Churchland argues that morality originates in the biology of the brain. She describes the "neurobiological platform of bonding" that, modified by evolutionary pressures and cultural values, has led to human styles of moral behavior. The result is a provocative genealogy of morals that asks us to reevaluate the priority given to religion, absolute rules, and pure reason in accounting for the basis of morality.
Moral values, Churchland argues, are rooted in a behavior common to all mammals--the caring for offspring. The evolved structure, processes, and chemistry of the brain incline humans to strive not only for self-preservation but for the well-being of allied selves--first offspring, then mates, kin, and so on, in wider and wider "caring" circles. Separation and exclusion cause pain, and the company of loved ones causes pleasure; responding to feelings of social pain and pleasure, brains adjust their circuitry to local customs. In this way, caring is apportioned, conscience molded, and moral intuitions instilled. A key part of the story is oxytocin, an ancient body-and-brain molecule that, by decreasing the stress response, allows humans to develop the trust in one another necessary for the development of close-knit ties, social institutions, and morality.
A major new account of what really makes us moral, Braintrust challenges us to reconsider the origins of some of our most cherished values.