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Peter Corning Ph.D.

About

Peter Corning, Ph.D., taught in the Human Biology Program at Stanford University for many years and is the long-time director of the Institute for the Study of Complex Systems. He is the author of several recent books, including The Fair Society: The Science of Human Nature and the Pursuit of Social Justice, as well as more than 150 professional journal articles in the biological and social sciences, and he is widely known for his work on the role of synergy as a causal agency in evolution.

Books by Peter Corning Ph.D.
Recent Posts
A Dangerous Division
Partisan loyalties and antagonism toward other groups, a deep psychological predisposition in humankind, can become mutually destructive when a society has deep economic disparities. Is there a path forward?

Lessons of the Titanic
The one-hundredth anniversary of an iconic human tragedy is also a time to look back and learn from an easily avoidable disaster.
And the Moral Is…Morals Matter
The cri de coeur by a disillusioned Goldman Sachs’ executive this week underscores a fundamental truth that is not found in Ayn Rand’s novels, or in most mainstream economics textbooks.
Have you noticed? We’re in a battle for our survival.

The dustbin of history is overflowing with dead civilizations that were victims of too-little, too-late. Stay tuned.

The dustbin of history is overflowing with dead civilizations that were victims of too-little, too-late. Stay tuned.

“Moral Hazard” or Moral Myopia?

Punishing the “undeserving” few at the expense of the many who deserve to be helped is a misguided moral stance.

Punishing the “undeserving” few at the expense of the many who deserve to be helped is a misguided moral stance.

Laughter as Therapy

Traditional medicine and grim political diatribes can do only so much to heal our wounds as a society. Why not try, yes, laughter.

Traditional medicine and grim political diatribes can do only so much to heal our wounds as a society. Why not try, yes, laughter.

Adam Smith’s Psychology

Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” image was not a license for greed. In an earlier work, he was an advocate for morality and the Golden Rule. Too bad economists have cherry-picked his writings.

Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” image was not a license for greed. In an earlier work, he was an advocate for morality and the Golden Rule. Too bad economists have cherry-picked his writings.

A Matter of Life and Death

Both ends of the political spectrum have been myopic, or in denial, about our basic needs. It’s time to recognize these biological imperatives as a “social right.”

Both ends of the political spectrum have been myopic, or in denial, about our basic needs. It’s time to recognize these biological imperatives as a “social right.”

The American Dream: A Replay

A popular theme in science fiction and Hollywood movies is the idea of a do-over in life. What if income had been distributed in this country over the past 30 years the same way it was in the 1950s and 1960s? It would be a very different country.

A popular theme in science fiction and Hollywood movies is the idea of a do-over in life. What if income had been distributed in this country over the past 30 years the same way it was in the 1950s and 1960s? It would be a very different country.