Description
Book SynopsisSince the beginning of recorded history, law and religion have provided rules that define good behavior. When we obey such rules, we assign to some external authority the capacity to determine how we should act. Even anarchists recognize the existence of a choice as to whether or not to obey, since no one has seriously doubted that the source of social order resides in our vast ethical systems. Debate has focused only on whose system is best, never for an instant imagining that law, religion, or some philosophical permutation of either was not the basis of prosocial action. The only divergence from this uniform understanding of human society has come from the behavioral sciences, which cite various biological bases for human goodness. Putting aside both ancient and relatively modern ethical systems, neuroscientists, psychologists, and evolutionary biologists have started a revolution more profound than any anarchist ever dreamed of. In essence, these researchers argue that the source o
Trade ReviewA worthwhile read for those wishing to familiarize themselves with potential mechanisms underlying altruistic behaviour. * Ingrid Butterfield, Australasian Psychiatry, 23(6), 2015 *
A splendid read and a real tour de force of brain science, this book proves that altruistic behaviour has the power to shape our brains and, consequently, our destiny * B.L. Chakoo; The Tribune, India *
Ground-breaking * Network Review, David Lorimer *
Pfaff convincingly shows the science of altruism... * Publisher's Weekly *
Written in a highly readable style, The Altruistic Brain summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field and offers an excellent starting point for readers who are interested in learning more about the biology and neuroscience of human prosociality. * Science *
By recognising these benevolent brain patterns, we can correspondingly strengthen them, thus giving more hope for a positive future a visionary conclusion from a scientific book. * Network Review: Journal of the Scientific and Medical Network *
Table of ContentsPART 1 - EVIDENCE FOR ALTRUISTIC BRAIN THEORY ; Chapter 1 - The Biological/Evolutionary Role of Altruism ; Chapter 2 - Altruistic Brain Theory Introduced ; Chapter 3 - Primary Neuroscience Research Underlying Each Step of Altruistic Brain Theory ; Chapter 4 - Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms that Promote Prosocial Behaviors Once the Moral Decision is Made ; Chapter 5 - New Neuroscience Research: the Theory's Link to An Ethical Universal ; PART 2 - IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF THE MORAL BRAIN - REMOVING OBSTACLES TO GOOD BEHAVIOR ; Chapter 6 - How Altruistic Brain Theory Changes Our Perceptions of Ourselves and of Altruism ; Chapter 7 - Why the Altruistic Brain Matters: Its Significance to Addressing Individuals' Bad Behavior ; Chapter 8 - Multiplier Effect: from Bad to Worse in a Social Setting ; Chapter 9 - No Easy Answers ... But No Pessimism Either
