Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature by Daniel Breyer

Explore the dark side of our human nature through the lenses of philosophy, theology, and science, guided by an expert with a global perspective. Are we fundamentally good, bad, or something in between? This question will lead us to consider the nature of evil and think about what, if anything, makes someone evil. This course tries to do just that, starting with a discussion of our fundamental nature. We can’t fully appreciate what it means to be human unless we come to terms with our dark side. In February we’ll cover the 1 st four lectures from Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature, a presentation by Professor Daniel Breyer Meetings will consist of a 30-minute video lecture, followed by a discussion. Each month we’ll meet 4 times to sample a portion of one of the many courses offered available in our Great Courses collection. Some are questions we have all asked ourselves: Why do so many people commit violence against others, why is there so much suffering in the world? Professor Breyer provides some fascinating potential answers to many of our darkest questions.The library’s digital content includes The Great Courses, a video-on-demand service for lifelong learners. This course is fueled by the power of questions, one of philosophy's most potent tools. This cross-cultural approach will help you see humanity as fully as possible from many perspectives, better allowing for progress toward finding answers that can apply across cultures and times. Thinkers from across the world and in many different eras have considered the dark side of human nature, and that's why this course will adopt a cross-cultural approach, investigating perspectives from many different traditions-Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and secular. But the truth is, if we don't face the totality of what it means to be human, we can never fully understand ourselves or fully appreciate our deep desire for meaning and purpose in our lives.

For many of us, it may be easier to simply avoid looking into the darker aspects of ourselves and our world-the suffering we see everywhere around us, from real world events to the entertainment we consume. The dark side of our nature is our mysterious and fragile underbelly-our negative, but all too human, side. But how can we be so sure? After all, we are all human.In Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature, Professor Daniel Breyer takes us on a fascinating philosophical journey into many of the deepest and darkest questions that have engaged humanity for millennia. And each time it happens, before we know anything about the circumstances, we are already sure of one thing: We are nothing like that perpetrator. Hardly a day goes by that we don't hear about someone committing a violent, reprehensible, even evil, act.

Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature by Daniel Breyer