An event titled ‘Book Analysis: The Trusting Brain’ was held within the scope of faculty seminars organized by the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Üsküdar University. Research Assistant Begüm Merve Çabuk from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, participated in the event as a speaker.
The event, held in the Socrates Hall of South Campus E Block, focused on Patricia S. Churchland's book “The Trusting Brain.” Research Assistant Begüm Merve Çabuk delivered her presentation by providing information about the book's main theme.
Research Assistant Begüm Merve Çabuk: “There is a need for a scientific basis to achieve progress”
Highlighting that our social nature is based on a scientific approach, Research Assistant Begüm Merve Çabuk from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, stated: “The main theme of the book is to propose a scientific approach to our social nature and to express what moral behavior entails in terms of neural platforms. The book draws attention to the fact that making broad predictions about our nature and achieving progress requires a solid scientific foundation.”
“Morality stems from the neurobiology of attachment and bonding”
Research Assistant Çabuk, stating that the book criticizes explaining human behavior solely through moral philosophy, said: “The question of the sources of human values can be approached meaningfully within a philosophical framework consistent with data from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, experimental psychology, and genetics. Focusing on the book's main hypothesis, the idea that morality stems from the neurobiology of attachment and bonding, and that when neurobiology is taken as a basis, the importance of learning and problem-solving abilities in managing social life can be better understood, comes to the forefront.”
At the end of her presentation, Çabuk emphasized the book's importance in contributing to the question of what makes humans and other animals social, and in developing a scientific understanding of the source of motives that lead us to care for and look after others. She then concluded her speech by answering questions and contributions from the participating academics.
The event concluded after a group photo session.