Lecture 7: Shared Beliefs
A major factor in the capability of man to outperform other species is his success in addressing large complex tasks through cooperative action. Such actions require the working together of large groups that share beliefs. We’ll explore some of the shared beliefs and the role they have played in the remarkable ascent of man.
Lecture Outline
1. Introduction
2. Individuals and groups
3. Early efforts
4. Schooling
5. Shared beliefs
Apple
Equality
Politics
Religion
Science
Emotion
6. Successes and failures
7. Conflict
8. Misbeliefs
9. Defense of beliefs
10. Summary
Concepts introduced in the seventh lecture:
Next lecture will continue our discussion of shared beliefs and their role in history.
A major factor in the capability of man to outperform other species is his success in addressing large complex tasks through cooperative action. Such actions require the working together of large groups that share beliefs. We’ll explore some of the shared beliefs and the role they have played in the remarkable ascent of man.
Lecture Outline
1. Introduction
2. Individuals and groups
3. Early efforts
4. Schooling
5. Shared beliefs
Apple
Equality
Politics
Religion
Science
Emotion
6. Successes and failures
7. Conflict
8. Misbeliefs
9. Defense of beliefs
10. Summary
Concepts introduced in the seventh lecture:
- Man’s unique capabilities include the capacity for cooperative efforts to achieve success in tasks that are far outside of the scope of individuals or small groups
- Cooperation in such endeavors is made possible through shared beliefs
- Shared beliefs, mostly assumed in our early youth, underly much of everyday living, of our relations with others, of our moral code, and of our acceptance of hierarchical and governing systems
- Shared beliefs allow major advances but can also cause major strife
- In that shared beliefs are fictions they possess a degree of flexibility and can change with time
- Many shared beliefs are very strongly held and most strongly defended
Next lecture will continue our discussion of shared beliefs and their role in history.