Another really interesting, thought provoking and hopeful discussion on human goodness took place in the Social Sciences department on Thursday lunchtime. Humankind argues that humans are fundamentally kind and cooperative, not selfish or cruel by nature.
Bregman challenges popular stories and experiments (like the “Lord of the Flies” idea) that suggest people are naturally bad, showing instead that many of these examples are misunderstood or flawed. Using history, psychology, and real-life cases, he shows that in crises, people often help each other rather than panic or turn violent. The book suggests that believing in human goodness can actually lead to better societies, schools, and governments, because trust encourages responsible behaviour.
Thank you to Ralph, Alice, Karina, Holly and Alarice for your brilliant input!
Respect. Engage. Aspire.