AOF Activities & Events

Werner Haag reviews The Bonobo and the Atheist

Werner Haag ... Werner Haag ... where have you heard that name? This freethought activist and noted member of the Atheist Community of San Jose, active from the group's inception, will visit AOF to talk about Frans de Waal's noted book, The Bonobo and the Atheist. De Wall's book focuses on the biological evolution of morality back on an evolutionary time scale as opposed to the beginning of the historical record. It provides numerous examples of "lower" mammals having well-developed social codes and exhibiting empathy and sympathy, which are prerequisites for moral behavior and altruism. Apes and other mammals exhibit both pro-social behavior (a proactive desire to help each other and live in harmony) and fear of group punishment for violating behavioral rules, very similar to human methods of maintaining social order. Thus, basic moral behavior predates existing religions probably by millions of years. It is not magic. It does not fall to us from the sky.

"My family drifted away from organized religion when I was young," Werner tells us, "and I never found any need for it thereafter. We get our morals and sense of right and wrong outside of religion anyway, i.e., from the examples set by family and members of the greater community. Critical thinking has shown me no evidence for gods and the dangers of acting on false premises."

Werner graduated from M.I.T. and has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Univ. of Tennessee. He worked for 10 years in basic research studying the fate of chemicals in the environment and in water treatment, then worked 25 years in industry with manufacturers of air & water treatment systems, and instruments to measure hazardous gases in the workplace. Join us, and be ready for a spirited discussion.

BTW, if you don't mind spoilers, you can preview his talk here (YouTube link). But we really hope you will join us (and Werner) in person. It'll be fun, funny, and good for your mind. Don't be a lazy bonobo.