The Darwin Day Lecture 2018: The evolution of human morality

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Published 2018-02-15

For the 2018 Darwin Day Lecture in central London, evolutionary psychologist Dr. Diana S Fleischman gave a stirring talk on the origins of human morality, the weaknesses of our evolved morality, and new horizons for the future human ethics.

She was chaired by theoretical physicist and Humanists UK Vice President Professor Jim Al-Khalili.

All Comments (21)

@staninjapan07 5 years ago

More interesting than I thought it would be. I clicked it as it was a Darwin Day thing, but I am very glad that I did. Thanks.
@nympholepticmonkey352 4 years ago

Pure brilliance! What a truly engaging, incredibly insightful and thought provoking talk! Thank you so much for the upload :)
@lxalexxl 5 years ago

This was an amazing talk. People need to update their "conventional knowledge" every once in a while. I've learned so many new things AND I'm left with a few concepts to think about.
@ADV_PO 5 years ago

Great speech. Beautiful ideas. Ultra wise. Thank you.
@elfootman 6 years ago

Great lecture! Amazing how some people here still argue against rationality.
@marcpadilla1094 5 years ago

Love is wise,Hate is foolish. We are all responsible one way or the other.
@terrythompson7535 3 years ago

Isn't morality really just a technology that rewards and encourages symbiotic reciprocal relationships while punishing and discouraging predatory and parasitic relationships? We need more of it
@weavehole 6 years ago

Good that the Darwin Day lecture came out just in time for St Skeletor's Day this year.
@Ian.McKay.of.Glasgow 5 years ago

This is the most insightful and thought-provoking lecture on morality that I have ever heard.
@evolutionrhythm4416 5 years ago

Interesting lecture. Especially highlighting the social areas where certain behaviour that's typically judged as "immoral" , yet when asked " what harm is such behaviour actually doing ?" can't be answered logically.I.e. Such moral judgements are driven by a reactionary ( instinctive) emotive process rather than a well considered thought out morality .
@chrisgibson6055 3 years ago

A truly great and fascinating talk! Many thanks! :)
@privatprivat8046 3 years ago

Why do the smartest talks have the dumbest comments?
@edwardlee2794 4 years ago

Thanks for the under - understand subject of psychology evolution. So enlightening. Thanks again and keep up with the good work. From HK
@moeali12345 3 years ago

Thank you for posting. Most informative. Great learning....
@rominar6453 4 years ago

Thanks! I learnt a lot
@syed9576 4 years ago

I like the guy introducing this. Making philosophy and science not mundane. good for you.
@JAZJ 5 years ago

Great, informative lecture. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Diana Fleischman is gorgeous. :)
@paulbk7810 1 year ago

German philosopher Immanuel Kant, founder of critical philosophy Born — 22 April 1724, Died — 12 February 1804 (aged 79) Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative (a form of "do onto others.."): Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals (1785) — “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” Violation of Kant's categorical imperative is hypocrisy of the worse kind.
@yahyamohammed637 2 years ago

And what is your view of the evolutionary debunking of morality argument(s) from Joyce, Steele, etc.?
@syourke3 5 years ago

When Gandhi was asked what he thought of western civilization, he said it sounded like a good idea. That’s exactly what I think about human morality.