Altruism
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 But when no good deed goes unpublished and you can keep score of your goodness through 'followers', 'likes' and the accompanying boosts to ego and reputation is truly selfless altruism online an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.
Last on
Clips
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Jack, Amy, and the snowstorm.
Duration: 05:12
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Altruism: What's in it for me?
Duration: 00:39
Music Played
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Stereolab
Blue Milk
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Boards of Canada
New Seeds
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Tunng
Bodies
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The Smashing Pumpkins
Cherry
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Hauschka
Zahnluecke
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, 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, the Ultimate Handyman tells us why he dedicates so much time to helping people with their DIY problems.
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
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, 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, the Redditor who drove through a blizzard to get medicine to a stranger.
Broadcasts
- Mon 7 Oct 2013 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Mon 28 Sep 2015 23:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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Podcast
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The Digital Human
Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world