#796 - Rob Kurzban - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Human Morality

Andrew Doyle

I had a conversation with Andrew Doyle, who wrote a book called The New Puritans using the Salem witch trials as a historical comparison to look at w…

Victor Hugo

The excerpt references a situation in Les Misérables where a nobleman bullies a character with impunity due to his social status.

Doyle

Doyle put his finger on a certain phenomenon in his book, suggesting a connection to moral attacks and invulnerability.

Guest: Rob Kurzban

Episode summary

Rob Kurzban is a psychologist and an author. What is morality? Why did it come about? Have humans always had it? Is it universal or temporary? Does it exist as a truth independent of humanity or is it entirely contingent on our culture? Expect to learn the evolutionary psychology of abortion policy, where the evolution of morality came from, the best examples of modern moral rules you might not think about, the biggest issues with being a moral hypocrite, the role that reputation plays in judging someone’s morality, how wisdom can help us overcome our biological hardware and much more...

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Andrew Doyle

The host references 'The New Puritans' to draw parallels between the Salem witch trials and contemporary issues of mo…

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Victor Hugo

The host discusses a specific situation in 'Les Misérables' that highlights the theme of invulnerability in moral att…

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moral attacks and invulnerability(1)morality and social justice(1)social status and morality(1)

Doyle

The host highlights how Doyle's insights in 'The Book of Daniel' reveal important connections between moral challenge…

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The conversation centers on moral attacks and invulnerability.
A second recurring theme is morality and social justice.
Referenced books include The New Puritans by Andrew Doyle and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in morality, social justice, and historical parallels and Readers interested in social justice and moral philosophy.

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Which books are mentioned in #796 - Rob Kurzban - The Evolutionary Psychology Of Human Morality?

The New Puritans by Andrew Doyle, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, and The Book of Daniel by Doyle are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Critical Analysis(2)Deep Dive(1)

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Readers interested in morality, social justice, and historical parallelsReaders interested in social justice and moral philosophyReaders interested in moral philosophy and resilience

Books Mentioned

The full list below is ranked by how useful each mention is to a listener: stronger recommendation language, clearer quote context, and better timestamp support rise first.

Andrew Doyle

Best for Readers interested in morality, social justice, and historical parallelsOften cited around morality and social justice

“Andrew Doyle wrote a book called The New Puritans using the Salem witch trials as a historical comparison to look at what's happening with a lot of cancellation and social justice at the moment.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: morality and social justice

For: Readers interested in morality, social justice, and historical parallels

Key quote: “I had a conversation with Andrew Doyle, who wrote a book called The New Puritans using the Salem witch trials as a historical comparison to look at what's happening with a lot of cancellation and social justice at the moment.”

The host references 'The New Puritans' to draw parallels between the Salem witch trials and contemporary issues of moral judgment and social justice. This book provides a historical lens to understand the dynamics of accusation and moral authority in society today.

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Victor Hugo

Best for Readers interested in social justice and moral philosophyOften cited around social status and morality

“The excerpt references a situation in Les Misérables where a nobleman bullies a character with impunity due to his social status, illustrating the theme of invulnerability in moral attacks.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: social status and morality

For: Readers interested in social justice and moral philosophy

Key quote: “The excerpt references a situation in Les Misérables where a nobleman bullies a character with impunity due to his social status.”

The host discusses a specific situation in 'Les Misérables' that highlights the theme of invulnerability in moral attacks. This example serves to illustrate broader societal issues regarding power dynamics and justice.

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Doyle

Best for Readers interested in moral philosophy and resilienceOften cited around moral attacks and invulnerability

“The speaker mentions that Doyle put his finger on a certain phenomenon in his book, suggesting a connection to moral attacks and invulnerability.”

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Sentiment: Critical Analysis

Trigger: moral attacks and invulnerability

For: Readers interested in moral philosophy and resilience

Key quote: “Doyle put his finger on a certain phenomenon in his book, suggesting a connection to moral attacks and invulnerability.”

The host highlights how Doyle's insights in 'The Book of Daniel' reveal important connections between moral challenges and personal resilience. This analysis suggests that the themes in the book are relevant to understanding contemporary issues.

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The New Puritans

Modern Wisdom · 42:33

I had a conversation with Andrew Doyle, who wrote a book called The New Puritans using the Salem witch trials as a historical comparison to look at w…

Les Misérables

Modern Wisdom · 1:16:16

The excerpt references a situation in Les Misérables where a nobleman bullies a character with impunity due to his social status.

The Book of Daniel

Modern Wisdom · 1:15:44

Doyle put his finger on a certain phenomenon in his book, suggesting a connection to moral attacks and invulnerability.

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Mentioned at 42:33

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Andrew Doyle

The host references 'The New Puritans' to draw parallels between the Salem witch trials and contemporary issues of moral judgment and social justic…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Mentioned at 1:16:16

Check price Jump to mention

Victor Hugo

The host discusses a specific situation in 'Les Misérables' that highlights the theme of invulnerability in moral attacks. This example serves to i…

Direct Amazon listing · affiliate link

Mentioned at 1:15:44