This document provides an overview of Module 6 which explores the topics of morality, free will, and crime control over three days. Day 1 discusses how morality is relative between societies and how the brain develops moral codes. Day 2 examines the concept of free will and research challenging the notion of free will. Day 3 looks at ways to control crime in societies by understanding human nature and designing systems of criminal justice that use a mixture of punishment and forgiveness.

1. Module 6:
The Big Picture

2. Module 6: Day 1
Morality is Relative
When I was a little boy, my parents told me not to eat meat on certain
Fridays. I never understood the rational for this but knew it was forbidden
within our Catholic community. Interestingly, I had friends who could eat
certain meats on any day of the week but could never eat other meats.
Which of these rules was the morally correct one?
Today, we explore the biological basis of morality.
You will learn how each society develops a unique
moral code and how the brain absorbs and
adheres to this code throughout life. You might
come to appreciate that when societies
disagree about morality, one of them
and all of them can be right.

3. Module 6: Day 2
The illusion of free will
Why did you take this course? I’d like to think
you chose this course because it’s great. But
maybe you never really had a choice. Today,
we explore the meaning of free will and
consider the possibility that no one can
deviate from a pre-determined course of
behavior. You will learn about research in
neurobiology that challenges our cherished
notion of free will and how some
philosophers believe you can have free will
even if your behavior is determined by the
laws of nature.

4. Module 6: Day 3
How should we control crime?
By now, you’ve become a bit of an expert on human behavior--
-particularly the behavior that we want to discourage in others.
But does understanding human nature prepare you to design
an effective system of criminal justice? Today, we explore ways
to control selfish behaviors in large, complex societies. You will
learn that a fair system might require a
thoughtful mixture of punishment and
forgiveness. You should come to
understand why biologists can help
governments design better systems to
deter selfish behaviors such as stealing,
cheating, and lying (not to mention killing).