Conscience. The Origin of Moral Intuition

What is good and evil? How do we distinguish one from the other? Is conscience inherent to humans by nature, or is it a product of upbringing and environment? These eternal questions are explored by the founder of neurophilosophy Patricia Churchland through the lens of biology and philosophy.
The author confidently guides us through the labyrinths of recent discoveries in the fields of neuroscience, genetics, evolution, psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, economics, politics, and philosophy, explaining how behavioral standards are formed in different social groups and cultures. By turning to evolution, she shows why a child's brain is set from the very first days to form emotional connections, cooperation, and care.
Shifting to philosophy, she clarifies why the concept of conscience plays a central role in any society, how moral attitudes are passed from generation to generation, and why moral norms are not the same in different cultures.
With her unparalleled ability to connect ideas across different domains, Patricia Churchland unveils anew the complex topic concerning the very essence of what makes us human.