En "El simio que entendió el universo", Stephen Stewart-Williams ofrece una fascinante exploración de la psicología evolucionista, explicando cómo la selección natural ha moldeado nuestra mente y comportamiento. El libro utiliza un lenguaje claro y accesible para desentrañar conceptos complejos, haciendo la psicología evolucionista comprensible para un público amplio. Stewart-Williams explora temas como la cooperación, la agresión, el altruismo y el amor, mostrando cómo estos comportamientos están arraigados en nuestra historia evolutiva. El libro también aborda las controversias y malentendidos que rodean a la psicología evolucionista, ofreciendo una perspectiva equilibrada y científica. A través de ejemplos concretos y analogías, el autor proporciona una comprensión profunda de la naturaleza humana y su conexión con el mundo natural.
In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles. He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology. This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies. Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe[1][4][5].
In 'Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge', E.O. Wilson advocates for the integration of knowledge from different fields to create a unified theory of understanding. He draws on the concept of consilience, introduced by William Whewell, which means the 'jumping together' of knowledge by linking facts and theories across disciplines. Wilson explores the chemistry of the mind, the genetic bases of culture, and the biological principles underlying works of art. He argues that a unified approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the human condition and the natural world, and he critiques the fragmentation of knowledge into separate disciplines. The book is a call for a new Enlightenment, emphasizing the importance of science and reason in understanding all aspects of human existence.
Richard Powers's 'Galatea 2.2' is a unique novel that explores the nature of artificial intelligence and consciousness. The story follows the creation of an artificial intelligence program designed to pass the Turing test. Powers blends fiction with philosophical and scientific concepts, creating a thought-provoking narrative about the potential and limitations of AI. The novel delves into the complexities of language, learning, and creativity, raising questions about what it means to be human. 'Galatea 2.2' is a fascinating exploration of the intersection of technology and consciousness, leaving readers to ponder the nature of intelligence and the future of AI.
The Overstory is a sweeping and impassioned work of environmental fiction that follows the lives of nine individuals whose paths are intertwined by their connections to trees. The novel is structured in four parts – 'Roots', 'Trunk', 'Crown', and 'Seeds' – mirroring the parts of a tree. It delves into themes of ecology, climate change, and the interconnectedness of trees and humans, using a blend of science, history, and magical realism. The book advocates for the protection of trees and the natural world, posing critical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment and the long-term consequences of human actions[2][4][5].
This week on the Sinica Podcast, I chat with Jeremy Garlick, Director of the Jan Masaryk Centre for International Studies, Prague University, and a scholar of China’s international relations. Jeremy is the author of the book Advantage China: Agent of Change in an Era of Global Disruption, but the book we're talking about this week is his new Cambridge Element titled Evolution in International Relations. It's a fascinating attempt to apply ideas from evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, and archaeogenetics to further our understanding of how nations interact.
6:13 – Why Jeremy decided to apply an evolutionary framework to IR
15:34 – Why evolutionary science hasn’t really been integrated into IR
19:32 – How Jeremy views his project as refining the IR field
22:43 – The risk of the misappropriation of Jeremy’s work, and the evolutionary elements of cooperation and intergroup competition
28:54 – How to avoid the trap of viewing evolution as teleological
34:07 – The idea of self-domestication
39:55 – Morality and human rights
45:17 – How emotions affect decision-making and diplomacy
50:32 – Hierarchy and status-seeking in IR
56:56 – Applying an evolutionary framework to the IR phenomena of alliances, nuclear deterrence, and strategic balancing
1:01:31 – Altruism toward out-groups
1:05:57 – The inevitability of competition with China
1:08:19 – The intellectual challenges Jeremy faced while working on this project, and what he would develop further in the future
1:12:51 – Jeremy’s thoughts on what IR as a discipline should address, integrating evolutionary science
Paying It Forward: Richard Turcsányi
Recommendations:
Jeremy: The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous by Joseph Henrich; and The Expanse novels by James S. A. Corey
Kaiser: Playground by Richard Powers
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