An “illuminating, entertaining and wise” (Nicholas A. Christakis, Nature) approach to understanding how our moral systems develop.

Distinguished founder of neurophilosophy Patricia S. Churchland explores why all social groups have ideals for behaviour, even though ethics vary among different cultures and even among individuals. Bringing together an understanding of the influences of nature and nurture, she looks to evolution to elucidate how our brains are configured to form bonds and to care; Churchland then turns to philosophy to understand how morality is transmitted through generations and why it has become a central piece of all societies.