Origins of Social Values

The podcast examines where social values originate, proposing that while basic values related to survival are hardwired into the brain, social values have a different origin. Patricia Churchland argues that social values evolve from the brain's adaptability and the complex social structures observed in mammals. Unlike the long-held belief that reason solely produces our values, she suggests that genetic changes in brain circuitry have allowed us to develop attachment and care for others, which are critical for complex social interactions. This evolutionary perspective shifts the understanding of morality from a purely rational construct to a biologically grounded phenomenon.