Conscience
The Origins of Moral Intuition
Hardcover
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Through science and philosophy, Conscience illuminates the answer to the question of how we determine right from wrong.
Patricia Churchland, the distinguished founder of neurophilosophy, reaches beyond the familiar argument of nature versus nurture to bring together insights from philosophy and revolutionary research in neuroscience. Scientific research may not be able to say with certainty what is ethical, and the definition of morality varies from person to person. But, from birth, our brains are configured to form bonds, to co-operate and to care.
Delving into research studies, including work on twins and psychopaths, Churchland deepens our understanding of the brain’s role in creating an ethical system. She then turns to philosophy to explore why morality is central to all societies, how it is transmitted through the generations and why different cultures live by different moral systems.
Reviews
“No one blends philosophy and neuroscience as well as Patricia Churchland. Here she provides a much-needed correction to the usual emphasis on reasoning and logic in moral philosophy. Our judgements are guided by ancient intuitions and brain processes shared with other mammals.” — Frans de Waal
“Conscience is illuminating, entertaining and wise.” — Nature
“... her conclusion—that conscience is not as fixed or universal as we might like to think—is a fascinating and provocative one.” — Economia
Awards
Shortlisted — PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, 2020
Also By: Patricia Churchland 
Touching a Nerve: Our Brains, Our Selves
Paperback, 2014
A trailblazing philosopher’s exploration of the latest brain science—and its ethical and practical implications.
Touching a Nerve: The Self as Brain
Hardcover, 2013
A trailblazing philosopher’s exploration of the latest brain science—and its ethical and practical implications.