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 examined by the founder of neurophilosophy, Patricia Churchland, through the lens of biology and philosophy.

The author confidently guides us through the labyrinth of recent discoveries in the fields of neuroscience, genetics, evolution, psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, economics, politics, and philosophy, explaining how behavioral norms are formed in different social groups and cultures. Addressing evolution, she shows why a child's brain is set from the very first days to form emotional bonds, cooperation, and care.

Turning to philosophy, she elucidates why the concept of conscience plays a central role in any society, how moral values are transmitted from generation to generation, and why moral norms are not the same across different cultures.

With her unparalleled ability to link ideas across different domains, Patricia Churchland reveals to us anew the complex topic concerning the very essence of what makes us human.