[koglist] [CEU Cogsci Talks] SUN - Morality: Evolutionary Origins and Cognitive Mechanisms - a public lecture by Pascal Boyer: Religions as Adaptations and Cultural Epidemics

The CEU Department of Cognitive Science together with CEU Summer University cordially invites you to a talk by Pascal Boyer (University of Washington in St. Louis) http://artsci.wustl.edu/~pboyer/PBoyerHomeSite/index.html Date: Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 18:00 - 19:30 Location: CEU, Nador street 9, Faculty Tower, Auditorium Pascal Boyer is a Henry Luce Professor of Individual and Collective Memory at Washington University in St. Louis. Abstract: Religious representations are widespread in human societies. A tempting explanation is that religions somehow constitute some form of evolutionary adaptation for human minds, perhaps fostering cooperation and prosocial behavior. But the historical and anthropological record contradicts that interpretation. A better explanation for religious representations should [a] start from the observation that the term `religion` misleadingly lumps together three very different kinds of social-cultural processes; [b] model the diffusion of religious concepts in terms of cultural epidemics based on universal cognitive dispositions; and [c] explain why some (not all) religious concepts can serve as recruitment devices in building coalitions. We're looking forward to see you there (Nador 9, Auditorium) ! Cognitive Science Events at CEU: http://cognitivescience.ceu.hu/events _______________________________________________ Subscribe by sending an empty mail to seminars-subscribe(a)cdc.ceu.hu Unsubscribe by sending an empty mail to seminars-unsubscribe(a)cdc.ceu.hu