American author, journalist, and cognitive scientist known for works on evolution, morality, and Buddhism.
Mindfulness teaches us to see the world without our usual filters and biases. This opens the door to true compassion.
Conflict often arises not because one opponent is more wrong. Conflict arises because we do not try to understand each other's perspective.
Technology is a double-edged sword. It can free us from suffering and expand our capacities, but it can also amplify our worst traits.
Our brains constantly distort reality according to our biases. Awareness of this is the first step to overcoming conflict.
Evolution created us as beings driven by selfishness. Yet we are also capable of tremendous empathy and altruism. The challenge is to develop this capacity.
Buddhism and modern science reach similar conclusions about the nature of mind and reality. This shows that spiritual inquiry and scientific inquiry can complement each other.
Our morality is a product of evolution. Understanding this helps us see how our moral intuitions are often limited and how we can expand them.