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Aleks Krotoski asks if the digital world is allowing us to be more altruistic than ever.

Aleks Krotoski explores what technology tells us about ouselves and the age we live in. In this first programme; is the digital world allowing us to be more altruistic than ever?

So can true altruism exist online? With all the stories of cyber-bullying and trolling it's very easy to forget the random acts of kindness that the technology also allows. Aleks explores some amazing stories of online altruism. But when no good deed goes unpublished and you can keep score of your goodness through 'followers', 'likes' and the accompanying boosts to ego and reputation is truly selfless altruism online an impossibility? And in the end, if good gets done does it matter?

Contributors: Primatologist Frans De Waal, Psychologist Dana Kilsanin, Founder of Random acts of pizza Daniel Rodgers, YouTube DIY guru Chez Rossi

Producer: Peter McManus.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 28 Sep 2015 23:30

Music Played

  • Stereolab

    Blue Milk

  • Boards of Canada

    New Seeds

  • Tunng

    Bodies

  • The Smashing Pumpkins

    Cherry

  • Hauschka

    Zahnluecke

Frans de Waal

Frans de Waal

Primatologist Frans de Waal,Β  author of 'The Bonobo and the Atheist'Β  talks to Aleks about altruism is a product of human evolution, and can be observed in our closest genetic relatives.

Rick O'Gorman

Rick O'Gorman

Rick O'Gorman, evolutionary social physchologist at the University of Essex. His research focuses on how we choose who we’re going to help.

Chez Rossi

Chez Rossi

Chez Rossi, the Ultimate Handyman tells us why he dedicates so much time to helping people with their DIY problems.

Daniel Rogers

Daniel Rogers

Texan Lawyer Daniel Rogers, who co-founded Random Acts of Pizza, tells us how the internet can grow kindness - and how beingΒ online makes it easier, and more fun.

Dana Klisanin

Dana Klisanin

Psychologist Dana Klisanin, explains why the internet lends itself to altruism, and what can be done to foster kindess in the online world.Β 

Jack Skirianos

Jack Skirianos

Jack Skirianos, the transplant patient who reached out to the internet for help when he most desperately needed it, and got a reply.

Amy Holdorf

Amy Holdorf

Amy Holdorf, the Redditor who drove through a blizzard to get medicine to a stranger.

Broadcasts

  • Mon 7 Oct 2013 16:30
  • Mon 28 Sep 2015 23:30

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