Lionel Tiger
Professor of Anthropology, Rutgers University
Lionel Tiger is the
Charles Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University and a consultant to
the U.S. Department of Defense on the future of biotechnology. An expert on the biological roots of human social behavior, he is the author of numerous books, including The Decline of Males, The Pursuit of Pleasure and The Manufacture of Evil: Ethics, Evolution, and the Industrial System. He originated the term "male bonding" and is an advocate for "male studies" departments in universities.
The Joy of Darwinism
Go to a park on the Upper West Side or in Cleveland or in China and you see exactly the same behavior because you know what - same organism.
Christmas is the Story of the Mammalian Contract
Lionel Tiger: Christmas is perhaps the most popular holiday in the world because it gets right to the bedrock of what religion is about, which is you’ve got to take care of the mother and the child.
Today is a Great Day to Catch an Elephant: The Evolutionary Advantage of Optimism
If you’re a hunter-gatherer, as we are, you better get up in the morning and think it is a great day to catch an elephant.
Religion is a Secretion of the Brain
There are 4,200 religions in the world, each of them believing they’re absolutely correct and everyone should follow their views.
Evolutionary Biology in the Department of Defense
In his work with the government, the professor helps to suss out the underlying motives of our allies and enemies.
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2 min
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How We Pick a Mate
As in real estate, the name of the game in our choice of spouse is “location, location, location.”
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7 min
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Male Aggression and the Financial Crisis
Masculinity was partly to blame for the obscure financial instruments that caused us so much grief.
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8 min
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Are Psychoactive Drugs Feminizing?
Drugs like Ritalin essentially work to make male behavior more female-like.
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6 min
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Can Animals Be Religious?
Some animals exhibit behaviors that are not unlike our religious ceremonies.
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4 min
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Are Some Religions More Evolved Than Others?
Some religions are better than others in providing a peace of mind, a sense of social comfort, a sense of decency.
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5 min
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The World Is Becoming “More Dangerously Religious”
“When you’re dealing with theoretical issues like who serves God better that becomes rapidly rather frightening and unattached to any reality.”
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3 min
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Sex is “Simply too Massive” Not to Have Rules
Sex can cause “all sorts of ruckus in all sorts of lives on an endless basis.” That’s why religions make a point of regulating it.
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3 min
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Is Religion Good for You?
“People who are religious might well be healthier because they help each other more.”
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5 min
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The Brain Creates Religion
Believing in God generates soothing “juices” in the brain that make us feel good.
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5 min
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Big Think Interview With Lionel Tiger
A conversation with the Darwin Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University.
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47 min
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