A Neuroscientist’s Guide to the Seven Deadly Sins | How To Academy

Thu, 21 November 2024

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm GMT

A Neuroscientist’s Guide to the Seven Deadly Sins

Dr Guy Leschziner In Conversation With Hannah MacInnes

What if the seven deadly sins are hardwired into our brains, and aren’t moral failings at all? Neurologist Guy Leschziner investigates if gluttony, sloth and pride might in fact help us to thrive.

Gluttony. Greed. Sloth. Pride. Envy. Lust. Anger.

These are the seven deadly sins, the vices of humankind that define immorality, the roots of all evil in the world. But do these sins really represent moral failings, or are they simply important and useful human functions that aid us? Are they really just a result of how our bodies, our psyches and our brains in particular, are wired?

Professor of neurology Dr Guy Leschziner joins us to explore the origins of the seven deadly sins in our evolutionary imperative to preserve the tribe and ensure the wellbeing of our societies.

Presenting examples from cutting edge science as well as real-life experience of patients where brain injury has led to ‘immoral’ actions, this livestream In Conversation event will make you think again about what it means to be human – and what it means to be ‘good’.

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Guy Leschziner

Professor of Neurology and Sleep Medicine

Guy Leschziner is a professor of neurology and sleep medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. In addition to many academic papers and books, he is author of The Nocturnal Brain – Nightmares, Neuroscience, and the Secret World of Sleep, and The Man Who Tasted Words. He has presented three series on neuroscience for BBC Radio 4 and World Service.

Hannah MacInnes

Presenter, Podcaster and Host of How To Academy’s live programmes.

Hannah MacInnes is a broadcaster and journalist. Alongside hosting How To Academy’s live programmes and podcast, she presents a cultural show on Times Radio and interviews on-stage at a number of other major literary events. She is the host of The Klosters Forum Podcast series and has written for the Radio Times, the Evening Standard and TLS. Before going freelance she worked for 8 years at BBC Newsnight, as Planning Editor and as a Producer / Filmmaker.