Robert Wright is at the TOP of my list of admirable people. He is a very deep thinker who has gained extraordinary insights. Yet he is humble. He conveys his thoughts in everyday language (as opposed to the stilted language of some intellectuals). He is very honest and seemingly devoid of bias. I've spent much of my 72 years studying toward understanding what is actually true of reality and human nature. Wright's insights (via his books, articles, videos) have contributed significantly to my understanding.
I agree and it's great to see that at completely different ages we are able to find the same truths. openness and understanding are the best tools for making a better world.
Every human emotion is related to chemical composition with the human body and the brain wave they trigger. Human emotion, belief system and character is chemical. This means you can cure people of radicalization chemically by changing their chemistry.
Moral progress is brought about by unwinable wars. If you can't defeat someone, you have no choice but to reach an agreement and part of that agreement is tolerance.
Bob, I really like the way you have broken down the development of different social and religious and governmental entities. The progress of moral progress is apparent but remains on a slippery slope, perhaps in spite of religion and because of the recent progression of sociopathic behaviors.. I tend to think we in america are moving in the direction of cultural ignorance and low level moral thinking; due in large part to popular decadent culture. the similarities of youth immorality is sad.
I love this guy. And his books are some of the best books ever written. But some of the things he says about religion is just not true. Morality has always been a part of religion. Just not a big part. I really hope he knows this. But it's kinda a big mistake to make. And all tribes have religion and many other things point to the fact that it is inborn just like language.
" _all tribes have religion and many other things point to the fact that it is inborn just like language_" I don't see that this is a logical consequence. It seems to me that the strong tendency to _assume agency_ is about sufficient to predict that societies will develop some sort of religious believes with high probability.
Caren Ami I study anthropology. If you compare 1 God many gods religions they always have the moral aspects and ideas. Band religions have the "gods don't like when you do this" stories or the "gods have done this and been punished so you can learn from this".
cheddyrod Mr. Genius with 1 sentence facts. I have only heard of 1 culture/tribe that didn't have a religion but they forces themselves to not have one and I am pretty sure they have a religion if you look closely. All tribes have a religion.
Wright's explanations of genetic mechanisms and other concepts are too vague to be informative. He provides provocative statements but does not develop them into concepts that can be discussed with any academic rigor. In the opening chapter of The Moral Animal he writes that feminists are "in a state of disorientation”, and takes on creationists too-ideology filters into his discussion of scientific ideas, and pot-stirring seems to take precedence over theoretical development. He is an eloquent writer, but what he writes is not science.
Consciousness is a metaphysical conundrum? Why is a scientist talking about metaphysics? There is only the physical, right? He is a scientist. He can't talk about what exists that is not physical because the nonphysical is not falsifiable. Even a human personality and especially the products of the personality, leave physical traces.
sorry to disagree but while I find Robert Wright intelligent and has well formed ideas, I get the impression his uses his intellect to support some preconceived ideas rather than applying his skills to discover truth whatever he finds it to be.
![You are the universe | Robert Wright, Deepak Chopra, & Michael Shermer [The Wright Show]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ChXSdqFhQ-A/mqdefault.jpg)
Robert Wright is at the TOP of my list of admirable people. He is a very deep thinker who has gained extraordinary insights. Yet he is humble. He conveys his thoughts in everyday language (as opposed to the stilted language of some intellectuals). He is very honest and seemingly devoid of bias. I've spent much of my 72 years studying toward understanding what is actually true of reality and human nature. Wright's insights (via his books, articles, videos) have contributed significantly to my understanding.
Both Evolution of God and Moral Animal are 2 of the best books ever written. Moral Animal is a must read for all people in this world.
I agree and it's great to see that at completely different ages we are able to find the same truths. openness and understanding are the best tools for making a better world.
Very lucky to have this guy as my lecturer. :)
Every human emotion is related to chemical composition with the human body and the brain wave they trigger. Human emotion, belief system and character is chemical. This means you can cure people of radicalization chemically by changing their chemistry.
Indeed you are.
Yeah. Really recommend his books.
Moral progress is brought about by unwinable wars. If you can't defeat someone, you have no choice but to reach an agreement and part of that agreement is tolerance.
Big fan of bob. Also 3:03.
is there a way to provide audio for the questions?
Bob, I really like the way you have broken down the development of different social and religious and governmental entities. The progress of moral progress is apparent but remains on a slippery slope, perhaps in spite of religion and because of the recent progression of sociopathic behaviors.. I tend to think we in america are moving in the direction of cultural ignorance and low level moral thinking; due in large part to popular decadent culture. the similarities of youth immorality is sad.
great, great guy
not hitchens and co. or william lane craig and co.
him
WHY so few upvotes!?
Sacrilege!
I love this guy. And his books are some of the best books ever written. But some of the things he says about religion is just not true. Morality has always been a part of religion. Just not a big part. I really hope he knows this. But it's kinda a big mistake to make. And all tribes have religion and many other things point to the fact that it is inborn just like language.
" _all tribes have religion and many other things point to the fact that it is inborn just like language_" I don't see that this is a logical consequence. It seems to me that the strong tendency to _assume agency_ is about sufficient to predict that societies will develop some sort of religious believes with high probability.
" _Morality has always been a part of religion._" How do you know?
ALL tribes do not have religion.
Caren Ami I study anthropology. If you compare 1 God many gods religions they always have the moral aspects and ideas. Band religions have the "gods don't like when you do this" stories or the "gods have done this and been punished so you can learn from this".
cheddyrod Mr. Genius with 1 sentence facts. I have only heard of 1 culture/tribe that didn't have a religion but they forces themselves to not have one and I am pretty sure they have a religion if you look closely. All tribes have a religion.
Wright's explanations of genetic mechanisms and other concepts are too vague to be informative. He provides provocative statements but does not develop them into concepts that can be discussed with any academic rigor. In the opening chapter of The Moral Animal he writes that feminists are "in a state of disorientation”, and takes on creationists too-ideology filters into his discussion of scientific ideas, and pot-stirring seems to take precedence over theoretical development. He is an eloquent writer, but what he writes is not science.
Consciousness is a metaphysical conundrum? Why is a scientist talking about metaphysics? There is only the physical, right? He is a scientist. He can't talk about what exists that is not physical because the nonphysical is not falsifiable. Even a human personality and especially the products of the personality, leave physical traces.
sorry to disagree but while I find Robert Wright intelligent and has well formed ideas, I get the impression his uses his intellect to support some preconceived ideas rather than applying his skills to discover truth whatever he finds it to be.