Pinker Offers Take on Evolved Morality
If you're looking for something interesting, I recommend Steven Pinker's contribution on "The Moral Instinct" in the New York Times Magazine.
It is a great read; however, I feel that, as usual, Pinker relies too heavily upon innateness.
His heavy leaning on the gene is evident as he somehow finds a way to use Chomsky's universal grammar (strongly innate) as an analogy in morality.
If you find this topic interesting, Robert Wright's The Moral Animal does a great job at considering how altruism might have evolved.
At any rate, Pinker is a brilliant writer, and this is well worth reading even if I do quibble with a few of the details.
It is a great read; however, I feel that, as usual, Pinker relies too heavily upon innateness.
His heavy leaning on the gene is evident as he somehow finds a way to use Chomsky's universal grammar (strongly innate) as an analogy in morality.
If you find this topic interesting, Robert Wright's The Moral Animal does a great job at considering how altruism might have evolved.
At any rate, Pinker is a brilliant writer, and this is well worth reading even if I do quibble with a few of the details.
posted by Samuel D. Bradley at 8:49 PM
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1 Comments:
As you have an interest in linguistics, I also recommend Pinker's "The Language Instinct" if you haven't already read it.
-Jessica
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