The Altruistic Brain

How We Are Naturally Good

Donald W Pfaff (PhD, PhD, The Rockefeller University, New York)

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English

Oxford University Press
11 December 2014

Medicine; Neurosciences

"Since the beginning of recorded history, law and religion have provided ""rules"" that define good behavior. When we obey such rules, we assign to some external authority the capacity to determine how we should act. Even anarchists recognize the existence of a choice as to whether or not to obey, since no one has seriously doubted that the source of social order resides in our vast ethical systems. Debate has focused only on whose system is best, never for an instant imagining that law, religion, or some philosophical permutation of either was not the basis of prosocial action. The only divergence from this uniform understanding of human society has come from the behavioral sciences, which cite various biological bases for human goodness. Putting aside both ancient and relatively modern ethical systems, neuroscientists, psychologists, and evolutionary biologists have started a revolution more profound than any anarchist ever dreamed of. In essence, these researchers argue that the source of good human behavior - of the benevolence that we associate with the highest religious teachings - emanates from our physical make-up. Our brains, hormones, and genes literally embody our social compasses. In The Altruistic Brain, renowned neuroscientist Donald Pfaff provides the latest, most far-reaching argument in support of this revolution, explaining in exquisite detail how our neuroanatomical structure favors kindness towards others.

Unlike any other study in its field, The Altruistic Brain synthesizes all the most important research into how and why - at a purely physical level - humans empathize with one another and respond altruistically. It demonstrates that human beings are ""wired"" to behave altruistically in the first instance, such that unprompted, spontaneous kindness is our default behavior; such behavior comes naturally, irrespective of religious or cultural determinants. Based on his own research and that of some of the world's most eminent scientists, Dr. Pfaff puts together well-established brain mechanisms into a theory that is at once novel but also easily demonstrable. He further explains how, using psycho-social approaches that are now well understood, we can clear away obstacles to the brain's natural, altruistic inclinations. This is the first book not only to explain why we are naturally good, but to suggest means of making us behave as well as we can.

The Altruistic Brain is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the behavioral revolution in science and the promise that it holds for reorienting society towards greater cooperation."

By: Donald W Pfaff (PhD PhD The Rockefeller University New York)
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 145mm, Width: 211mm, Spine: 31mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780199377466
ISBN 10: 0199377464
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 11 December 2014
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

PART 1 - EVIDENCE FOR ALTRUISTIC BRAIN THEORY Chapter 1 - The Biological/Evolutionary Role of Altruism Chapter 2 - Altruistic Brain Theory Introduced Chapter 3 - Primary Neuroscience Research Underlying Each Step of Altruistic Brain Theory Chapter 4 - Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms that Promote Prosocial Behaviors Once the Moral Decision is Made Chapter 5 - New Neuroscience Research: the Theory's Link to An Ethical Universal PART 2 - IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF THE MORAL BRAIN - REMOVING OBSTACLES TO GOOD BEHAVIOR Chapter 6 - How Altruistic Brain Theory Changes Our Perceptions of Ourselves and of Altruism Chapter 7 - Why the Altruistic Brain Matters: Its Significance to Addressing Individuals' Bad Behavior Chapter 8 - Multiplier Effect: from Bad to Worse in a Social Setting Chapter 9 - No Easy Answers . . . But No Pessimism Either

Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University New York, New York

Reviews for The Altruistic Brain: How We Are Naturally Good

Pfaff convincingly shows the science of altruism... --Publisher's Weekly Written in a highly readable style, The Altruistic Brain summarizes the current state of knowledge in the field and offers an excellent starting point for readers who are interested in learning more about the biology and neuroscience of human prosociality. --Science [A]ccessible to nonscientists. --The Scientist