Psychology Colloquium: Professor Paul Bloom

Monday, October 25 2010

Psychology Colloquium: Professor Paul Bloom, Yale University

Title: Just Babies: Origins of Human Kindness

Abstract: What is the origin of human kindness? I explore the hypothesis that even babies possess a rich moral sense.
They distinguish between good and bad acts and prefer good characters over bad ones. They feel pain at
the pain of others, and might even possess a primitive sense of justice. But this moral sense is sharply limited.
It is narrow; we naturally care about our family and friends, but we are indifferent -- or worse -- toward strangers.
The extension of morality to distant others is the product of our intelligence and our imagination. It is not in the genes.

3:30PM in Stiteler Hall room B6. Refreshments will be served at 3:00PM in Stiteler Hall's Silverstein Forum.