The Paradoxical Primate – Rethinking Human Nature
ons 08 apr.
|Digital
A 4D - Dreamers, Doers, Designers and Doubters - Conversation on April 8 at 18.00 CET with Colin Talbot, exploring the paradoxes of human nature
Tid & plats
08 apr. 2026 18:00 – 19:30
Digital
Om eventet
Colin Talbot - The Paradoxical Primate
Since the mid-20th century two views of human nature have competed for dominance in social sciences. And have been reflected in political and public policy controversies.
One is Homo Economicus, the idea that humans are rational utility maximisers. This has dominated mainstream economics and invaded political science and policy analysis.
The other is Tabula Rasa, the blank slate view of human nature. That humans have no innate nature, but are shaped in their values and actions by a combination of nurture (environment) and choice.
Both would deny these are views of human nature. But to the degree they are universal assumptions about human behaviour they are also views of human nature.
What if humans have evolved social instincts that are both inherited and flexible, driven by nature and nurture, biology and culture? Instincts that are easily traceable to our evolutionary history as an intensely…