Emotional Amoral Egoism

An ambitious book with a wide-ranging vision for the future. Nayef Al-Rodhan offers a novel account of humanity's recent struggles by looking at competing forces in the human mind, in geo-politics and wider society, informed by his extensive knowledge of the workings of the brain and his appreciation of how recent findings in neuroscience can expand the base for urgently needed philosophical theorizing. Philosophers may take issue with Al-Rodhan's theory of human nature, global governance or morality, but he poses an inescapable challenge by convincingly arguing that we need to integrate neuroscientific findings and insights from the humanities and social sciences when thinking about who we are, how we can co-exist peacefully and thrive as a species. Professor Barry C Smith, Director of the Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London A must-read primer exploring the role of emotions and morality in political decision-making. Oxford University's Professor Nayef Al-Rodhan takes the reader on a vertiginous intellectual journey, using pioneering research from neuroscience and other disciplines to unpack what it means to be human. By offering an accessible neurophilosophical perspective on international relations at a time of rapid technological change, Professor Al-Rodhan helps bridge the gap between neuroscience and policy. A recommended read for students, academics and ambassadors alike! Thomas Matussek, Former German Ambassador to the United Kingdom, United Nations and India. This ambitious and wide-ranging book offers both a synthesis of philosophical and scientific approaches to human nature and a strong plea for a set of universal human values. Its attraction lies in its forceful argument that the emotional aspects of human nature should be taken seriously if we are to design effective systems of political and moral cooperation, and that our political thinking needs to be inspired by the neuro-psychological consequences of our brain chemistry. Professor Michael Freeden, University of Oxford