The last three days I attended a research symposium in Cambridge, Massachusetts on "Empathy, Altruism and Agape: Perspectives on Love in Science and Religion." The symposium was sponsored by the Fetzer Institute and the John Templeton Foundation and involved some fifty prominent scientists, philosophers, and theologians.

This far-ranging interdisciplinary dialogue involved presenters from many different disciplines and faiths. There were presentations on evolutionary biology and the origins of altruism among social species and humans. There were ethological and neurological presentations about the emotion of empathy. There were social scientific discussions of heroic and moral behavior. From comparative neurological studies of monogamous and polygamous vole species to psychological comparisons of Protestant and Catholic rescuers of Jews during the Nazi Holocaust, the symposium was a unique and challenging interdisciplinary dialogue. The program was not only theoretical; several exemplary practitioners of self-giving love also gave presentations about their lives of service and the spiritual foundations of their motivation. Here in microcosm was an example of the incredible promise of the constructive engagement of science and religion, as we explored a neglected and poorly understood topic, one of central importance to human experience and religious life.

Below I have included a conference description and the agenda of speakers and topics. All of this information, including abstracts and speaker biographies, can be obtained online at<http://www.altruisticlove.org>. The conference papers will eventually be published as a book. I hope to be able to pre-publish some of this material in the coming weeks on Meta.

Also of interest is a short inspirational book by Sir John Templeton on "Agape Love: A Tradition Found in Eight World Religions" newly available from the Templeton Foundation Press<http://www.templeton.org/press/>.

-- Billy Grassie

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Empathy, Altruism and Agape: Perspectives on Love in Science and Religion October 1-3, 1999, Cambridge, Massachusetts

The goal of the conference is to initiate creative thinking towards stimulating and promoting excellence in research into the phenomenon and interpretation of altruistic love. The approach is highly integrative, linking the biological and social sciences with philosophical, ethical, and religious themes. Love includes a variety of concepts, and in particular the John Templeton Foundation and the Fetzer Institute are interested in genuine generosity and self-giving love. Many religious perspectives affirm in various and diverse ways that love is at the "heart of being" and that the ultimate reality or ultimate purpose of things is related to love. To explore this topic fully there needs to be an inclusion in the discussion and research of a broad range of concepts, including altruism, attachment, bonding, empathy, and others.

One aim of resulting research would be to better understand under what conditions, attitudes as well as behavior centered on the good of others might be fostered. The potential contribution of this to the improvement of the human condition is substantial. The following questions serve as a starting point for furthering the inquiry into this field of study:

To what extent do human individuals and societies manifest behavior that is motivationally or consequentially altruistic?

What are the evolutionary origins and neurologic substrates for altruistic behavior?

What developmental processes foster or hinder altruistic attitudes and behavior in various stages of life from early childhood onwards?

What psychological, social, and cultural factors influence altruism and caring?

How do spiritual and religious experiences, beliefs, and practices influence altruistic attitudes and behavior?

How does the giving and receiving of altruistic love interact with personal well-being and health?

How can researchers from various disciplines collaborate to enhance this field of study?

Overall, is it possible to gain new insights which can be utilized to help people and their communities to better appreciate the significance and importance of love, and benefit from its expression as a lived reality?

Empathy, Altruism and Agape Perspectives on Love in Science and Religion A Research Symposium Cambridge, Massachusetts

Friday, October 1, 1999

8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks

9:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m

Perspectives on the Origins of Altruism Moderated by Jeffrey Schloss, Ph.D.- Westmont College

Elliott Sober, Ph.D.- University of Wisconsin Mapping the Conceptual Terrain

Leda Cosmides, Ph.D. and John Tooby, Ph.D.- University of California, Santa Barbara Friendship, engagement, and the Banker's Paradox: Other pathways to the evolution of altruism

Break

William Durham, Ph.D.- Stanford University The Role of Culture in the Evolution of Altruism

David Sloan Wilson, Ph.D.- Binghamton University SUNY The Rise and Fall and Rise and Fall of Altruism in Evolutionary Theory

Discussion with Audience

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lunch

2:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

Emotions and Empathy Moderated by William Hurlbut, M.D.- Stanford University

Frans B. M. de Waal, Ph. D. - Emory University, Yerkes Primate Living Links Center The Communication of Emotions and the Possibility of Sympathy in Monkeys and Apes

Antonio Damasio, M.D., Ph.D.- University of Iowa Hospital The Neurobiology of Emotion

Break

Hanna Damasio, M.D.- University of Iowa Hospital Impaired Emotion and Social Behavior Following Brain Damage

William Hurlbut, M.D.- Stanford University Empathy, Evolution and Ethics

Discussion with Audience

7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Dinner

Guest Speaker: Rev. Eugene Rivers, Ella J. Baker House

Saturday, October 2, 1999

8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Introduction and Opening

9:10 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, ATTACHMENT, AND LOVE Moderated by Greg Fricchione, M.D. - Brigham and Women's Hospital

Thomas R. Insel, M.D.- Emory University, Yerkes Primate Center The Molecular Biology of Monogamy

Greg Fricchione, M.D.- Brigham and Women's Hospital Brain Evolution: Separation, Attachment and Agape

Break

Jerome Kagan, Ph.D. - Harvard University The Human Moral Sense

Don Browning, Ph.D.-The University of Chicago Agape, Empathy and the Foundational/Nonfoundational Debate

Discussion with Audience

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lunch - Guest Speaker: Joan Eads, Zone Coordinator, L'Arche USA

2:30 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.

Self, Others, and Sacrifice Moderated by William Hurlbut, M.D.- Stanford University

Jeffrey P. Schloss, Ph.D. - Westmont College Is It Really More Blessed to Give than to Receive?:
Emerging Questions in the Evolution of Radical Altruism

Edith Wyschogrod, Ph.D. - Rice University Pythagorean Bodies and the Body of Altruism

Break

Stephen J. Pope, Ph.D.- Boston College The Ordering of Love

Rev. Robert Hamerton-Kelly - Woodside Village Church The Emergence of Radical Love in the Biblical Tradition

Discussion with Audience

7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Dinner

Guest Speaker: Dame Cicely Saunders, St. Christopher's Hospice

Sunday, October 3, 1999

8:15 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.

Introduction and Opening

9:10 a.m. - 12:00 Noon

THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CONTEXT OF ALTRUISM Moderated by Jeffrey Schloss, Ph.D. - Westmont College

Samuel P. Oliner, Ph.D., Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute Extraordinary Acts of Ordinary People: Faces of Heroism and Altruism

Pearl Oliner, Ph.D. - California State University - Humboldt Ingroup and Outgroup Altruism: Protestants and Catholics

Kristen Renwick Monroe, Ph.D. - University of California How Identity and Perspective Constrain Choice

Break

Dan Batson, Ph.D. - University of Kansas Addressing the Altruism Question Experimentally

V.S. Ramachandran, Ph.D. - University of California, San Diego Neural Basis of empathy and of artistic experience

Discussion with Audience

12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Lunch

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES Moderated by Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. - Case Western University, Center for Biomedical Ethics

Lynn Underwood, Ph.D. - Fetzer Institute The Human Experience of Agape & Compassion: Conceptual mapping and data from selected studies

Ruben L.F. Habito, Ph.D. - Southern Methodist University Compassion as Outflow of Wisdom: A Buddhist Perspective

Lawrence Sullivan, Ph.D.- Harvard University, Center for the Study of World Religions Can Religions Progress in Love as Science Progress in Knowledge? An Overview and Appraisal

Break

3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Comments/Summary - Stephen G. Post, Ph.D. Case Western Reserve University, Center for Biomedical Ethics Agape: Its Meaning and Scientific Future

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closing: Appreciation, Hopes, and What Comes Next

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Reception

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
This publication is hosted by Metanexus Online http://www.metanexus.net. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Metanexus or its sponsors.

Metanexus welcomes submissions between 1000 to 3000 words of essays and book reviews that seek to explore and interpret science and religion in original and insightful ways for a general educated audience. Previous columns give a good indication of the topical range and tone for acceptable essays. Please send all inquiries and submissions to . Metanexus consists of a number of topically focused forums (Anthropos, Bios, Cogito, Cosmos, Salus, Sophia, and Techne) and periodic HTML enriched composite digests from each of the lists.

Copyright notice: Except when otherwise noted, articles may be forwarded, quoted, or republished in full with attribution to the author of the column and "Metanexus: The Online Forum on Religion and Science ". Republication for commercial purposes in print or electronic format requires the permission of the author. Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 by Metanexus Institute.

Published   1999.10.04