Psychiatrist Thomas Lewis, who has studied the neurobiology of emotion, and human rights activist and lawyer, Van Jones present two perspectives on understanding good and evil. Is our perception of good and evil biologically or culturally based?

They both provide vivid examples which demonstrate the complexity of our perceptions of what is good and what is evil.

This lecture was selected as part of the series because Dan Brown weaves a thread through his book that explores the motivation of one character believing he is acting for the good of humanity while at the same time his behavior appears evil.

(Recorded in December 2005 as part of IONS’ Conversations at the Edge lecture series.)