Name: The evolution of compassion
Uploaded: 2008-10-31T19:39:00Z
Duration: 16 min 39 s
Description: Robert Wright uses evolutionary biology and game theory to explain why we appreciate the Golden Rule ("Do unto others..."), why we sometimes ignore it and why there’s hope that, in the near future, we might all have the compassion to follow it.

Robert Wright uses evolutionary biology and game theory to explain why we appreciate the Golden Rule ("Do unto others..."), why we sometimes ignore it and why there’s hope that, in the near future, we might all have the compassion to follow it.

Robert Wright: The evolution of compassion

The evolution of compassion

Compassion and the golden rule, though ingrained in human nature, are selectively applied, often constrained within familial or ally bonds.

Non-zero-sum relationships, where mutual gains are possible, naturally foster compassion and the golden rule, shaping societal progress.

Expanding one's moral imagination to empathize with diverse perspectives is essential for universal compassion and global understanding.