Generosity and Altruism: Exploring the Role of Religion and Evolution

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The chapter delves into the topics of generosity, altruism, reciprocal altruism, evolutionary theory, and human nature. It discusses the role of religion as a motivator for good behavior and ethical conduct, as well as the potential explanations for kindness and altruism in humans from an evolutionary psychology perspective. The speakers also emphasize the power of acts of kindness and the positive impact it has on happiness and satisfaction.

As head of TED, Chris Anderson has had a ringside view of the world’s boldest thinkers sharing their most uplifting ideas. Inspired by them, he believes that it’s within our grasp to turn outrage back into optimism. It all comes down to reimagining one of the most fundamental human virtues: generosity. What if generosity could become infectious generosity?

Chris offers a playbook for how to embark on our own generous acts—whether gifts of money, time, talent, connection, or kindness—and to prime them, thanks to the Internet, to have self-replicating, even world-changing, impact.

Shermer and Anderson discuss: what makes TED successful • power laws and giving • charging vs. giving away • altruism • being good without God • billionaires • how the average person can participate • public vs. private solutions to social problems • donor fatigue.

Chris Anderson has been the curator of TED since 2001. He holds a degree in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University. His new book is Infectious Generosity: The Ultimate Idea Worth Spreading.