Cargando…

The altruistic species : scientific, philosophical, and religious perspectives of human benevolence /

What motivates altruism? How essential is the phenomenon of altruism to the human experience? Is altruism readily accessible to the ordinary person? In The Altruistic Species, Andrew Michael Flescher and Daniel L. Worthen explore these questions through the lenses of four disciplinary perspectives?b...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Clasificación:Libro Electrónico
Autor principal: Flescher, Andrew Michael, 1969-
Otros Autores: Worthen, Daniel
Formato: Electrónico eBook
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: Philadelphia : Templeton Foundation Press, ©2007.
Colección:Ebook Central Academic Complete Collection
Temas:
Acceso en línea:Texto completo
Descripción
Sumario:What motivates altruism? How essential is the phenomenon of altruism to the human experience? Is altruism readily accessible to the ordinary person? In The Altruistic Species, Andrew Michael Flescher and Daniel L. Worthen explore these questions through the lenses of four disciplinary perspectives?biology, psychology, philosophy, and religion. In the course of their investigation, they make an extended argument for the existence of altruism against competing theories that construe all ostensible cases of benevolence as self-interest in disguise. The authors consider theories of egoism; the role of genetics and evolutionary biology; the psychological that induce altruistic behavior; philosophical theories of altruism in normative ethics such as Kantian, utilitarian, and Aristotelian models of moral action; and accounts of love of the neighbor in Christianity and Buddhism. Additionally, they offer a new, comprehensive definition of altruism that is inclusive of the insights of each of these perspectives. The Altruistic Species reinvigorates the debate over the prevalence of selfless motivation in human behavior?whether it is a rare or ubiquitous phenomenon, something that is always to be considered exceptional or a capacity that members of any community potentially could develop. This noteworthy interdisciplinary examination of altruism balances science, virtue theory, and theology. It is ideal courses in ethics, human behavior, and evolutionary biology, as an educational resource for other multidisciplinary studies, and for interested lay readers.
Descripción Física:1 online resource (x, 290 pages)
Bibliografía:Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-284) and index.
ISBN:9781599471563
1599471566
Acceso:Access restricted to Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, faculty and staff.