Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature cover art

Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature

By: Professor Daniel Breyer, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Professor Daniel Breyer
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $38.99

Buy Now for $38.99

About this listen

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about someone committing a violent, reprehensible, even evil, act. And each time it happens, before we know anything about the circumstances, we are already sure of one thing: We are nothing like that perpetrator. But how can we be so sure? After all, we are all human.

In Understanding the Dark Side of Human Nature, Professor Daniel Breyer takes us on a fascinating philosophical journey into many of the deepest and darkest questions that have engaged humanity for millennia. The dark side of our nature is our mysterious and fragile underbelly - our negative, but all too human, side. For many of us, it may be easier to simply avoid looking into the darker aspects of ourselves and our world - the suffering we see everywhere around us, from real world events to the entertainment we consume. But the truth is, if we don’t face the totality of what it means to be human, we can never fully understand ourselves or fully appreciate our deep desire for meaning and purpose in our lives.

Thinkers from across the world and in many different eras have considered the dark side of human nature, and that’s why this course will adopt a cross-cultural approach, investigating perspectives from many different traditions - Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and secular. This cross-cultural approach will help you see humanity as fully as possible from many perspectives, better allowing for progress toward finding answers that can apply across cultures and times.

This course is fueled by the power of questions, one of philosophy’s most potent tools. Some are questions we have all asked ourselves: Why do so many people commit violence against others, why is there so much suffering in the world? Professor Breyer provides some fascinating potential answers to many of our darkest questions.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 The Great Courses (P)2019 The Teaching Company, LLC
Ethics & Morality Philosophy Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences Human Psychology Human Nature Psychology
All stars
Most relevant  
So easy to follow and a reminder that we’re all human. This is my new bible and I’d recommend this read/listen to anyone and everyone. Thank you!

Finished and replaying! Loved!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I disagree with the other reviewer. This is an excellent presentation on the subject of the dark side of human nature. It makes good comparisons between different philosophies and religions for a complete view of topics from several angles. The presenter does not focus on Buddhist viewpoints only and includes Hindu and Christian perspectives. My only criticism is he could have also included other traditions to show the universality of some beliefs.

Overall this is well presented and orderly as it explores many facets of the dark aspects of human nature and related topics.

A great course!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I really enjoyed this. It was a fascinating cross-cultural, philosophical journey into the human mind. It has left me with many areas that I wish to explore further, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

A wonderful journey

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Well worth the listen, the dark side of human nature asks you to reflect on your own views and tendencies and offers different perspectives on how to deal with them.

Thought provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very well presented, clear arguments of viewpoints from many sides. Easy to listen to, clear examples. Thanks.

Fascinating course

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I was thinking I was going to be listening to something more fact and psychology based but in fact it is philosophy based and the lecturer is a philosopher

Too philosophical for me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

seems to ramble and repeat quite a bit. very little facts and information, more interpretation and subjective opinion

Very much not what was expected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.