In association with Swindon Humanists.
Western philosophy has been cogitating upon what is that makes us essentially human for the past 2,500 years. Religions have been doing it longer than that. Yet it is only in the last few decades that science has turned its mind and methodology to the problem. And the picture it is gradually revealing not only contradicts many of the assumptions we’ve traditionally relied upon, but is also posing challenging questions as to how we should be organising our society and living our lives. Utilising the latest research findings in social and evolutionary psychology, neuroscience and genetics, Steve Miller tries to uncover what we now know about the role of inheritance in intelligence, personality development and even in the way we vote; the evolutionary origins of sexism, sexuality and sexual attraction; of racism, tribalism and xenophobia; of violence and criminality; and how far our parents, social connections, culture and life circumstances shape the way we think and behave. And some of the answers are not only extremely surprising, but also deeply disturbing.
Philosophy in Swindon - click here for next talk 