There is a popular belief about Nature that we live in a dog-eat-world of brutish survival of the fittest. If such a pessimistic world view ever makes you depressed, primate psychologist Frans de Waal offers an optimistic counterpoint. He found striking evidence that animals other than humans have empathy and a sense of fair play, as well as cognition. Dr. Michael
Sullivan will discuss de Waal’s counterintuitive findings from the uplifting The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society. These include the ways that empathy has evolved in animals as a widespread adaptive trait, underscoring the intelligence of animals which is often dismissed.
“Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion: The Wisdom of Jonathan Haidt”
Dr. Michael Sullivan will be presenting a creative understanding of why good people are divided by politics and religion. It is based on the work of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Dr. Haidt concludes that “morality binds and blinds”. Using the six foundations of morality derived from his research, we can gain a better understanding of “the righteous mind” that everyone has. This can help bridge political and religious divides and promote greater respect for opposing views.