[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.76,0:00:02.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a man out there, somewhere,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:02.88,0:00:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who looks a little bit\Nlike the actor Idris Elba,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.88,0:00:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at least he did 20 years ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.28,0:00:10.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know anything else about him,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.12,0:00:12.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,except that he once saved my life
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.04,0:00:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by putting his own life in danger.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.60,0:00:19.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This man ran across four lanes of freeway\Ntraffic in the middle of the night
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.00,0:00:21.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to bring me back to safety
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.80,0:00:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after a car accident\Nthat could have killed me.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.60,0:00:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the whole thing\Nleft me really shaken up, obviously,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.28,0:00:31.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it also left me with this\Nkind of burning, gnawing need
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.28,0:00:32.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to understand why he did it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.76,0:00:36.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what forces within him\Ncaused him to make the choice
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.56,0:00:38.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I owe my life to,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.44,0:00:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to risk his own life\Nto save the life of a stranger?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.08,0:00:47.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words, what are the causes of his\Nor anybody else's capacity for altruism?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.84,0:00:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But first let me tell you what happened.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.88,0:00:51.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That night, I was 19 years old
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.36,0:00:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and driving back to my home\Nin Tacoma, Washington,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.76,0:00:55.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,down the Interstate 5 freeway,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.60,0:00:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when a little dog\Ndarted out in front of my car.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.16,0:01:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I did exactly\Nwhat you're not supposed to do,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.52,0:01:01.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is swerve to avoid it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.48,0:01:04.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I discovered why\Nyou're not supposed to do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.32,0:01:07.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hit the dog anyways,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.08,0:01:09.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that sent the car into a fishtail,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.72,0:01:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then a spin across the freeway,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.32,0:01:15.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until finally it wound up\Nin the fast lane of the freeway
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.92,0:01:18.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,faced backwards into oncoming traffic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.88,0:01:20.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then the engine died.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.48,0:01:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was sure in that moment\Nthat I was about to die too,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.88,0:01:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I didn't
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.12,0:01:29.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the actions\Nof that one brave man
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.88,0:01:31.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who must have made the decision
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.40,0:01:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,within a fraction of a second\Nof seeing my stranded car
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.44,0:01:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to pull over and run\Nacross four lanes of freeway traffic
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.72,0:01:40.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the dark
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.68,0:01:42.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to save my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.68,0:01:45.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then after he got my car working again
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.60,0:01:49.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got me back to safety\Nand made sure I was going to be all right,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.24,0:01:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he drove off again.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.80,0:01:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He never even told me his name,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.16,0:01:55.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm pretty sure\NI forgot to say thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.44,0:01:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So before I go any further,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.40,0:01:59.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I really want to take a moment
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.88,0:02:02.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to stop and say thank you\Nto that stranger.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.28,0:02:05.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.92,0:02:12.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I tell you all of this
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.16,0:02:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the events of that night changed\Nthe course of my life to some degree.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.40,0:02:18.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I became a psychology researcher,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.04,0:02:22.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I've devoted my work to understanding\Nthe human capacity to care for others.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.84,0:02:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Where does it come from,\Nand how does it develop,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.20,0:02:27.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what are the extreme forms\Nthat it can take?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.12,0:02:31.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These questions are really important\Nto understanding basic aspects
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.32,0:02:32.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of human social nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.32,0:02:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lot of people,\Nand this includes everybody
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.44,0:02:38.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from philosophers\Nand economists to ordinary people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.36,0:02:41.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,believe that human nature\Nis fundamentally selfish,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:41.64,0:02:45.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're only ever really motivated\Nby our own welfare.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.84,0:02:50.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if that's true, why do some people,\Nlike the stranger who rescued me,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.16,0:02:52.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do selfless things,\Nlike helping other people
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.68,0:02:55.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at enormous risk and cost to themselves?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.88,0:02:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Answering this question
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.20,0:03:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,requires exploring the roots\Nof extraordinary acts of altruism,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.32,0:03:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what might make people\Nwho engage in such acts
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.72,0:03:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different than other people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.60,0:03:08.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But until recently, very little work\Non this topic had been done.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.92,0:03:11.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The actions of the man who rescued me
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.76,0:03:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,meet the most stringent\Ndefinition of altruism,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.76,0:03:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a voluntary, costly behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.40,0:03:19.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,motivated by the desire\Nto help another individual.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.64,0:03:23.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's a selfless act\Nintended to benefit only the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.56,0:03:27.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What could possibly\Nexplain an action like that?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.12,0:03:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One answer is compassion, obviously,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.08,0:03:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is a key driver of altruism.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.52,0:03:34.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But then the question becomes,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.16,0:03:36.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why do some people\Nseem to have more of it than others?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.12,0:03:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the answer may be that the brains\Nof highly altruistic people
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.04,0:03:44.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are different in fundamental ways.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.12,0:03:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to figure out how,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.04,0:03:49.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I actually started from the opposite end,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.16,0:03:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with psychopaths.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.68,0:03:55.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A common approach to understanding\Nbasic aspects of human nature,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.80,0:03:57.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the desire to help other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.84,0:04:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to study people\Nin whom that desire is missing,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.00,0:04:03.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and psychopaths are exactly such a group.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.20,0:04:06.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Psychopathy is a developmental disorder
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.60,0:04:08.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with strongly genetic origins,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.72,0:04:11.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it results in a personality\Nthat's cold and uncaring
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.64,0:04:15.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a tendency to engage in antisocial\Nand sometimes very violent behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.04,0:04:19.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once my colleagues and I\Nat the National Institute of Mental Health
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.32,0:04:21.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,conducted some of the first ever\Nbrain imaging research
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.96,0:04:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of psychopathic adolescents,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.12,0:04:26.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and our findings, and the findings\Nof other researchers now,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.00,0:04:29.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have shown that people\Nwho are psychopathic
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.32,0:04:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pretty reliably exhibit\Nthree characteristics.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.16,0:04:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, although they're not generally\Ninsensitive to other people's emotions,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.80,0:04:41.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are insensitive to signs\Nthat other people are in distress.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.60,0:04:42.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in particular,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.84,0:04:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they have difficulty recognizing\Nfearful facial expressions like this one.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.76,0:04:50.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And fearful expressions convey\Nurgent need and emotional distress,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.48,0:04:53.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they usually elicit\Ncompassion and a desire to help
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.12,0:04:54.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in people who see them,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.40,0:04:57.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so it makes sense that people\Nwho tend to lack compassion
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.12,0:04:59.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also tend to be insensitive to these cues.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.52,0:05:01.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The part of the brain
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.76,0:05:04.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's the most important\Nfor recognizing fearful expressions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.68,0:05:05.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is called the amygdala.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.96,0:05:09.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are very rare cases of people\Nwho lack amygdalas completely,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.40,0:05:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're profoundly impaired\Nin recognizing fearful expressions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.28,0:05:15.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And whereas healthy adults and children
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.68,0:05:18.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,usually show big spikes\Nin amygdala activity
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.32,0:05:20.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they look at fearful expressions,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.48,0:05:23.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,psychopaths' amygdalas\Nare underreactive to these expressions.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.64,0:05:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes they don't react at all,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.32,0:05:27.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which may be why they have\Ntrouble detecting these cues.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.24,0:05:32.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, psychopaths' amygdalas\Nare smaller than average
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.40,0:05:34.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by about 18 or 20 percent.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.92,0:05:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So all of these findings\Nare reliable and robust,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.76,0:05:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they're very interesting.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.24,0:05:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But remember that my main interest
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.92,0:05:45.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not understanding\Nwhy people don't care about others.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.48,0:05:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's understanding why they do.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.88,0:05:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the real question is,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.20,0:05:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could extraordinary altruism,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.48,0:05:54.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is the opposite of psychopathy
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.72,0:05:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in terms of compassion\Nand the desire to help other people,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.16,0:06:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emerge from a brain that is also\Nthe opposite of psychopathy?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.20,0:06:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A sort of antipsychopathic brain,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.88,0:06:08.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,better able to recognize\Nother people's fear,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.00,0:06:11.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an amygdala that's more reactive\Nto this expression
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.44,0:06:13.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe larger than average as well?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.92,0:06:15.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As my research has now shown,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.96,0:06:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all three things are true.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.44,0:06:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we discovered this
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.72,0:06:21.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by testing a population\Nof truly extraordinary altruists.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.76,0:06:24.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are people who have given\None of their own kidneys
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.44,0:06:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a complete stranger.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.60,0:06:29.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So these are people who have volunteered\Nto undergo major surgery
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.72,0:06:32.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that one of their own\Nhealthy kidneys can be removed
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.36,0:06:34.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and transplanted into a very ill stranger
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.44,0:06:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they've never met and may never meet.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.04,0:06:39.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Why would anybody do this?"\Nis a very common question.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.52,0:06:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the answer may be
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.92,0:06:44.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the brains of these\Nextraordinary altruists
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.20,0:06:46.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have certain special characteristics.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.04,0:06:50.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are better at recognizing\Nother people's fear.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.28,0:06:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're literally better at detecting\Nwhen somebody else is in distress.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.72,0:06:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This may be in part because their amygdala\Nis more reactive to these expressions.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.40,0:07:01.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And remember, this is the same part\Nof the brain that we found
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.36,0:07:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was underreactive\Nin people who are psychopathic.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.72,0:07:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, their amygdalas\Nare larger than average as well,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.64,0:07:07.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by about eight percent.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.88,0:07:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So together, what these data suggest
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.64,0:07:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the existence of something\Nlike a caring continuum in the world
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.28,0:07:16.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's anchored at the one end\Nby people who are highly psychopathic,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.84,0:07:19.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and at the other by people\Nwho are very compassionate
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.36,0:07:21.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and driven to acts of extreme altruism.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.76,0:07:26.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I should add that what makes\Nextraordinary altruists so different
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.72,0:07:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not just that they're\Nmore compassionate than average.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.44,0:07:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.68,0:07:32.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what's even more unusual about them
Dialogue: 0,0:07:32.60,0:07:34.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that they're compassionate\Nand altruistic
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.72,0:07:37.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just towards people\Nwho are in their own innermost circle
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.68,0:07:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of friends and family. Right?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:39.68,0:07:42.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because to have compassion for people\Nthat you love and identify with
Dialogue: 0,0:07:42.96,0:07:45.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not extraordinary.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.04,0:07:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Truly extraordinary altruists' compassion\Nextends way beyond that circle,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.24,0:07:52.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even beyond their wider\Ncircle of acquaintances
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.48,0:07:55.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to people who are outside\Ntheir social circle altogether,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.44,0:07:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,total strangers,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.00,0:07:58.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like the man who rescued me.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.96,0:08:03.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I've had the opportunity now\Nto ask a lot of altruistic kidney donors
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.48,0:08:07.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how it is that they manage to generate\Nsuch a wide circle of compassion
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.88,0:08:11.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they were willing to give\Na complete stranger their kidney.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.24,0:08:14.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I found it's a really difficult\Nquestion for them to answer.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.76,0:08:18.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I say, "How is it that\Nyou're willing to do this thing
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.84,0:08:20.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when so many other people don't?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.84,0:08:23.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're one of fewer than 2,000 Americans
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.28,0:08:25.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who has ever given a kidney to a stranger.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:25.92,0:08:27.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What is it that makes you so special?"
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.40,0:08:29.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what do they say?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.40,0:08:33.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They say, "Nothing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.20,0:08:35.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's nothing special about me.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.00,0:08:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm just the same as everybody else."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.20,0:08:42.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that's actually\Na really telling answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.32,0:08:46.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it suggests that the circles\Nof these altruists don't look like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:47.24,0:08:49.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they look more like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.24,0:08:50.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have no center.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.32,0:08:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These altruists literally\Ndon't think of themselves
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.76,0:08:56.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as being at the center of anything,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.04,0:08:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as being better or more inherently\Nimportant than anybody else.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.00,0:09:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I asked one altruist\Nwhy donating her kidney made sense to her,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.24,0:09:05.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she said, "Because it's not about me."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.04,0:09:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another said,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.80,0:09:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"I'm not different. I'm not unique.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.08,0:09:14.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your study here is going to find out\Nthat I'm just the same as you."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.44,0:09:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think the best description\Nfor this amazing lack of self-centeredness
Dialogue: 0,0:09:18.56,0:09:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is humility,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.44,0:09:23.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that quality\Nthat in the words of St. Augustine
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.56,0:09:25.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,makes men as angels.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.12,0:09:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And why is that?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.84,0:09:30.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's because if there's\Nno center of your circle,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.64,0:09:33.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there can be no inner rings\Nor outer rings,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.20,0:09:36.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nobody who is more or less worthy\Nof your care and compassion
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.12,0:09:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than anybody else.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.92,0:09:41.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think that this is what really\Ndistinguishes extraordinary altruists
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.44,0:09:42.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the average person.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.40,0:09:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I also think that this is a view\Nof the world that's attainable by many
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.00,0:09:48.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and maybe even most people.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.00,0:09:51.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think this\Nbecause at the societal level,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.28,0:09:55.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,expansions of altruism and compassion\Nare already happening everywhere.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.92,0:09:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The psychologist Steven Pinker\Nand others have shown
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.40,0:10:01.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that all around the world people\Nare becoming less and less accepting
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.68,0:10:04.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of suffering in ever-widening\Ncircles of others,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.16,0:10:07.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which has led to declines\Nof all kinds of cruelty and violence,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.24,0:10:10.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from animal abuse to domestic violence\Nto capital punishment.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:11.48,0:10:14.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's led to increases\Nin all kinds of altruism.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.32,0:10:17.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A hundred years ago, people\Nwould have thought it was ludicrous
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.44,0:10:18.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how normal and ordinary it is
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.96,0:10:22.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for people to donate\Ntheir blood and bone marrow
Dialogue: 0,0:10:22.28,0:10:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to complete strangers today.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.72,0:10:26.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is it possible that\Na hundred years from now
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.84,0:10:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people will think\Nthat donating a kidney to a stranger
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.44,0:10:30.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is just as normal and ordinary
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.92,0:10:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we think donating blood\Nand bone marrow is today?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.96,0:10:35.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:35.80,0:10:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what's at the root\Nof all these amazing changes?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.72,0:10:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In part it seems to be
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.52,0:10:43.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increases in wealth\Nand standards of living.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.60,0:10:47.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As societies become\Nwealthier and better off,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.36,0:10:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people seem to turn\Ntheir focus of attention outward,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.00,0:10:53.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as a result, all kinds of altruism\Ntowards strangers increases,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.88,0:10:58.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from volunteering to charitable donations\Nand even altruistic kidney donations.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.44,0:11:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But all of these changes also yield
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.44,0:11:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a strange and paradoxical result,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.68,0:11:09.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is that even as the world is\Nbecoming a better and more humane place,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.24,0:11:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which it is,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.48,0:11:13.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's a very common perception\Nthat it's becoming worse
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.20,0:11:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and more cruel, which it's not.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.08,0:11:17.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't know exactly why this is,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:17.92,0:11:21.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I think it may be\Nthat we now just know so much more
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.52,0:11:24.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the suffering\Nof strangers in distant places,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.72,0:11:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so we now care a lot more
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.16,0:11:29.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the suffering\Nof those distant strangers.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.24,0:11:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what's clear is the kinds\Nof changes we're seeing show
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.96,0:11:36.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the roots of altruism and compassion
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.44,0:11:39.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are just as much a part of human nature\Nas cruelty and violence,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.48,0:11:41.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe even more so,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.20,0:11:45.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and while some people do seem\Nto be inherently more sensitive
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.28,0:11:47.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the suffering of distant others,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.40,0:11:50.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I really believe that the ability\Nto remove oneself
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.20,0:11:51.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from the center of the circle
Dialogue: 0,0:11:52.00,0:11:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and expand the circle of compassion\Noutward to include even strangers
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.08,0:11:58.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is within reach for almost everyone.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.08,0:12:01.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.32,0:12:08.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)