Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Frans de Waal: A Helping Hand Or A Stab In The Back - Which Is More Human?

Dr. Frans de Waal will be having a lecture and book signing tomorrow (Thurs, Sept 24) , 7pm at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. For all you Facebook users, Dr. De Waal has a Facebook fan page as well! You really should go become his "fan" on his page. Really.

Below is the description from Hunter College's website:

Thursday, September 24, 2009
7:00 PM
A Helping Hand Or A Stab In The Back - Which Is More Human?

World-renowned primatologist Dr. Frans de Waal will discuss his ground-breaking book The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder Society.

An exploration of the origins of human morality that challenges many of our most basic assumptions, The Age of Empathy has been written by one of the world's leading primatologists, Dr. Frans de Waal, called one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine and the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Award. De Waal's newest book looks at the question of whether competitive, selfish behavior is really "instinctive" and "natural," an outgrowth of evolution and the survival of the fittest. However, using research from anthropology, psychology, neuroscience, and animal behavior, de Waal argues that humans are equally hard-wired for empathy. We are, he says, group animals - cooperative, sensitive to injustice, and mostly peace-loving - just like other primates, elephants, and dolphins. De Waal's findings have profound implications for politics, office behavior - and perhaps our very survival.

The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College
(68th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues)

Program is free and open to the public.
To RSVP, click here or call (212) 772-4007.

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