Moral Tribes
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Average rating3.7
Our brains were designed for tribal life, for getting along with a select group of others (Us) and for fighting off everyone else (Them). But modern times have forced the world's tribes into a shared space, resulting in epic clashes of values along with unprecedented opportunities. As the world shrinks, the moral lines that divide us become more salient and more puzzling. We fight over everything from tax codes to gay marriage to global warming, and we wonder where, if at all, we can find our common ground. In this grand synthesis of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, a pathbreaking neuroscientist reveals the underlying causes of modern conflict and lights the way forward.--From publisher description.
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As a fresh take on utilitaniarism it's first-rate: new perspectives, new research, insightful questions. But ultimately he's just preaching to the choir because the single most important question of our age is not even mentioned: how to reach those who don't realize they are immoral? That is, people whose brains—through no fault of their own—consider Loyalty To Tribe and Obedience To Authority to be moral, rendering them vulnerable to charismatic psychopaths like Rush Limbaugh or evangelical preachers or anyone on Fox “News”. They're not going to read this. They're not going to question their gut reactions or listen to anyone suggesting that they do (“heresy!”). This is a very real problem, and unfortunately no amount of philosophical arguing is going to address that. And on that depressing note, Happy Newtonmas!
