What can you learn about yourself by understanding the animal mind? A lot, it turns out. In this deep dive, three professors explain how your personality, logic, and ability to love might be informed by our animalistic natures. Friendliness in canines and primates is a major advantage in their evolution, just as it is for humans acting as tolerant citizens in a democracy. Elephants are tremendously caring toward each other, and their extended families reveal fascinating gender dynamics. We might even discover that the origins of economic laws – reciprocity, altruism, and rationing — came to us through our primate ancestors. These three talks converge by refocusing our human-centric lens of friendship, family, and frugality.

Speakers: Ross Andersen, Brian Hare, Laurie Santos, Phyllis Lee