ZC The Goodness Paradox
with Steven Piker
$25
Our species has a rare and perplexing combination of moral tendencies: we can be the nastiest of species and also the nicest. How to understand this? Evolution science provides and understanding. So also do many religions, especially Roman Catholicism and Theravada Buddhism. We will explore each of these understandings. The BIG QUESTION: How might the balance be shifted...... away from nasty, in favor of nice?
Suggested readings:
Richard Wrangham THE GOODNESS PARADOX. THE STRANGE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIRTUE AND VIOLENCE IN HUMAN EVOLUTION. And brief handouts.
STEVE PIKER is an anthropologist with fieldwork in Thailand and the US. He has spent 44 years at Swarthmore College and has offerred many courses of four of Maine senior colleges. His career long interests are human evolution and religion.
PAUL DOHERTY is an armchair theologian with experience in music, broadcasting, and ministry. He has also been teaching for several years at two Maine senior colleges, including South Coast.
Fridays: 10-11:30 Oct 18 Oct 25 Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22
on ZOOM
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Oct 18 - Nov 22nd, 2024
Fri for 6 weeks
ZOOM
For directions, call us at 207-274-3105