Conscience

The Origins of Moral Intuition

2 July 2019

Description

Through science and philosophy, Conscience illuminates the answer to the question of how we determine right from wrong.

Patricia Churchland, the distinguished founder of neurophilosophy, reaches beyond the familiar argument of nature versus nurture to bring together insights from philosophy and revolutionary research in neuroscience. Scientific research may not be able to say with certainty what is ethical, and the definition of morality varies from person to person. But, from birth, our brains are configured to form bonds, to co-operate and to care.

Delving into research studies, including work on twins and psychopaths, Churchland deepens our understanding of the brain’s role in creating an ethical system. She then turns to philosophy to explore why morality is central to all societies, how it is transmitted through the generations and why different cultures live by different moral systems.

Reviews

"No one blends philosophy and neuroscience as well as Patricia Churchland. Here she provides a much-needed correction to the usual emphasis on reasoning and logic in moral philosophy. Our judgements are guided by ancient intuitions and brain processes shared with other mammals." — Frans de Waal

"Conscience is illuminating, entertaining and wise." — Nature

"... her conclusion—that conscience is not as fixed or universal as we might like to think—is a fascinating and provocative one." — Economia

Awards

Shortlisted — PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, 2020

Also By: Patricia Churchland View all by author...

Hardback

9781324000891

163 x 244 mm • 272 pages

£21.99

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Ebook

9781324000907

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