Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures Agustin Fuentes is the Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame Event Details Dates: 26, 27 February and 5, 6, 7 and 8 March 2018, 5.30 - 6.30pm. The lectures may be followed by questions. Latest finishing time is 7pm. Venue: Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Tickets are free of charge but need to be booked in advance. Click here for tickets. Series summary Humans can see the world around them, imagine how it might be different, and translate those imaginings into reality…or at least try to. Humans believe. Meaning, imagination, and hope are as central to the human story as are bones, genes, and ecologies. Neither selfish aggression nor peaceful altruism dominates human behavior as a whole. We are a species distinguished by our extraordinary capacity for creative cooperation, our ability to imagine possibilities and to make them material, and our powerful aptitudes for belief, hope, and cruelty. In the 21st century significant shifts in our understanding of evolutionary biology and theory, radical expansions in the archeological and fossil records, and increasing collaboration across multiple fields of inquiry alter our capacities to investigate the human niche, how humans shape and are shaped by the world. Via exploring our evolution, the emergence of our capacity to create, innovate, and collaborate we develop better understandings of human natures and the answers as to why we believe. And, hopefully, to better contemplate the possibilities of human futures. Lecture 1 - Who are we? Monday 26 February 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 2 - What makes us human? Tuesday 27 February 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 3 - How did we change the world? Monday 5 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 4 - How do we believe? Tuesday 6 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Gifford Seminar: Professor Agustin Fuentes Wednesday 7 March 2018, 2.30pm - 3.45pm The Elizabeth Templeton Lecture Theatre, New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, 1 Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU Lecture 5 - Why do we believe? Wednesday 7 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule The Elizabeth Templeton Lecture Theatre, New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, 1 Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU. Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule. Lecture 6 - Does belief matter? Thursday 8 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Series Videos The lectures will be recorded and links will be posted in the respective pages of each lecture. Biography Agustín Fuentes completed a B.A. in Zoology and Anthropology, and an M.A.& Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. His research delves into the how and why of being human. Ranging from chasing monkeys in jungles and cities, to exploring the lives of our evolutionary ancestors, to examining what people actually do across the globe, Professor Fuentes is interested in both the big questions and the small details of what makes humans and our closest relatives tick. His current research foci include creativity, community, and meaning-making in human evolution, ethnoprimatology and multispecies anthropology, evolutionary theory, and public perceptions of, and interdisciplinary approaches to, human nature(s). Fuentes’ recent books include “Evolution of Human Behavior” (Oxford), “Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you: busting myths about human nature” (U of California), “Conversations on Human Nature(s)” (with Aku Visala, Routledge) and “The Creative Spark: how imagination made humans exceptional” (Dutton). Related Links Find out more about Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes on his academic profile Feb 26 2018 00.00 - Mar 08 2018 00.00 Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes' Gifford Lecture Series is made up of six lectures under the series title 'Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures' Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Find out more about the venue
Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures Agustin Fuentes is the Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C. Professor of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame Event Details Dates: 26, 27 February and 5, 6, 7 and 8 March 2018, 5.30 - 6.30pm. The lectures may be followed by questions. Latest finishing time is 7pm. Venue: Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Tickets are free of charge but need to be booked in advance. Click here for tickets. Series summary Humans can see the world around them, imagine how it might be different, and translate those imaginings into reality…or at least try to. Humans believe. Meaning, imagination, and hope are as central to the human story as are bones, genes, and ecologies. Neither selfish aggression nor peaceful altruism dominates human behavior as a whole. We are a species distinguished by our extraordinary capacity for creative cooperation, our ability to imagine possibilities and to make them material, and our powerful aptitudes for belief, hope, and cruelty. In the 21st century significant shifts in our understanding of evolutionary biology and theory, radical expansions in the archeological and fossil records, and increasing collaboration across multiple fields of inquiry alter our capacities to investigate the human niche, how humans shape and are shaped by the world. Via exploring our evolution, the emergence of our capacity to create, innovate, and collaborate we develop better understandings of human natures and the answers as to why we believe. And, hopefully, to better contemplate the possibilities of human futures. Lecture 1 - Who are we? Monday 26 February 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 2 - What makes us human? Tuesday 27 February 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 3 - How did we change the world? Monday 5 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Lecture 4 - How do we believe? Tuesday 6 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Gifford Seminar: Professor Agustin Fuentes Wednesday 7 March 2018, 2.30pm - 3.45pm The Elizabeth Templeton Lecture Theatre, New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, 1 Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU Lecture 5 - Why do we believe? Wednesday 7 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule The Elizabeth Templeton Lecture Theatre, New College, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, 1 Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU. Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule. Lecture 6 - Does belief matter? Thursday 8 March 2018 5.30-6.30pm Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Series Videos The lectures will be recorded and links will be posted in the respective pages of each lecture. Biography Agustín Fuentes completed a B.A. in Zoology and Anthropology, and an M.A.& Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and is a Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame. His research delves into the how and why of being human. Ranging from chasing monkeys in jungles and cities, to exploring the lives of our evolutionary ancestors, to examining what people actually do across the globe, Professor Fuentes is interested in both the big questions and the small details of what makes humans and our closest relatives tick. His current research foci include creativity, community, and meaning-making in human evolution, ethnoprimatology and multispecies anthropology, evolutionary theory, and public perceptions of, and interdisciplinary approaches to, human nature(s). Fuentes’ recent books include “Evolution of Human Behavior” (Oxford), “Race, Monogamy, and other lies they told you: busting myths about human nature” (U of California), “Conversations on Human Nature(s)” (with Aku Visala, Routledge) and “The Creative Spark: how imagination made humans exceptional” (Dutton). Related Links Find out more about Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes on his academic profile Feb 26 2018 00.00 - Mar 08 2018 00.00 Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes' Gifford Lecture Series is made up of six lectures under the series title 'Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures' Playfair Library, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL Find out more about the venue
Feb 26 2018 00.00 - Mar 08 2018 00.00 Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes - Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures Professor Dr Agustin Fuentes' Gifford Lecture Series is made up of six lectures under the series title 'Why We Believe: evolution, making meaning, and the development of human natures'
