North Bay World of Ideas: The Roots of Greed and the Lust for Power

As we search for root causes for problems in the human experience, greed and the lust for power has to be one of the best places to look. Still, we have to ask ourselves why does it exist and why are elements of it so widespread? Widespread, long-term human behavior patterns usually have their basis in human evolution, usually from characteristics that had evolutionarily valuable advantages—or from their side effects.

So this session will explore why greed and the lust for power is so prominent in the human behavioral repertoire; what beneficial contributions it may have made over evolutionary time; how it may have become too much of a good thing; the nature of its pathological expression; and possible ways of mitigating, redirecting, using, and limiting it.

The events are generally about half presentation, by the session host or a guest speaker, followed by discussion moderated by the host or presenter. Divergent ideas are welcome; however, the discussions are moderated to keep them civil and fully respectful, to attempt to give all participants a fair amount of time to speak, and to try to focus the conversation generally around the topic of the day. So we’re all invited to contribute, but you don’t have to be an expert to be welcome, participate, and enjoy the fellowship of thoughtful people who all agree to be open to divergent ideas and treat each other with respect.

Please read event details at https://www.meetup.com/North-Bay-World-of-Ideas/events/257758386/ , where you can also register for the session. Advanced registration is required. It’s free.