Business, Ethics, and Evolution: The Struggle between Our Higher and Lower Impulses
Some people were intrigued with how Bernard Madoff maintained his smile of contentment amidst the unraveling of his astonishingly successful business scheme.1 Madoff’s smile seemed to contradict what Charles Darwin had said about those who eventually confess their shady dealings. According to Darwin, when wrongdoing is committed, then “conscience looks backwards and judges past actions,”…