Archive: The Golden Branch - Evil and Goodness
About the show
Is humanity inherently evil and socialized into goodness? Or is it good and becomes evil in destructive processes? Is goodness something we choose or something we are? Are these metaphysical manifestations we are dealing with or something created by evolution?
Evolutionary psychologists argue that our prosocial behavior has selected for an instinctive moral sense in us. Humans are social animals whose survival requires cooperation. Those who do not contribute to the community are excluded.
But our adaptation to the group can also disrupt morality, as illustrated by the well-known Stanford experiment. We know that under certain circumstances, people can be induced to perform unimaginably cruel acts but also heroic acts far beyond self-interest.
How should we understand human nature and essence concerning good and evil?
Participants:
· Nina Hemmingsson, author, comic artist, and satirist.
· David Thurfjell, historian of religion and professor of religious studies
· Isabella Lundgren, artist (jazz singer) and composer
Hosts: Christer Sturmark & Victoria Larm
Victoria Larm has a background in art history and is an author, currently with the historical thriller novel The Ninth Circle (Norstedts). The first novel in the series The Plague Mask.
Christer Sturmark is CEO of Fri Tanke publishing, author, and social commentator, currently with the book The Art of Thinking Clearly(Fri Tanke).
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BRANCH
The Golden Branch is a metaphor for the conversation that branches out in different directions where art, science, philosophy, and literature meet in an interdisciplinary spirit. During the spring, Christer Sturmark and Victoria Larm will talk with exciting guests from diverse backgrounds. The goal is to collectively grow and develop mental golden branches, both on stage and among the audience when the performance is over.
ABOUT LIVEMODERN
On February 12, Livemodern, a new cultural venue in the restaurant at Cirkus on Djurgården, premieres. There will be a diverse range of thought-provoking, challenging, unique, and surprising program items. The content consists of everything from discussions and performances to concerts and drag shows.
