[Marxism-Thaxis] Man the hunted Charles Brown Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:34:00 -0700

Non-profit Charity Promotes Altruism as Key to Man's Evolution and Well-Being

ST. LOUIS, March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

The Anthropedia Foundation has teamed with the National Science Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, and Washington University Center for the Study of Ethics and Human Values to present

the conference "Man The Hunted: Sociality, Altruism, and Well-Being."

Spanning Thursday, March 12 to Saturday,

March 14, "Man The Hunted" includes panels and presentations by leaders in anthropology, psychiatry, ethnography, philosophy, education, biology, and healthcare. The conference highlights man's historical role as prey rather than predator, and human reliance on cooperation, altruism, and sociality for survival and healthy development.

The conference will tackle many related questions: How is the negative paradigm of man as predator reflected in current research and institutions? What are the scientific and societal implications of the positive paradigm that man is altruistic? How can we translate theory into practice and have an impact on the community?

The event is co-chaired by Robert Sussman, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology at Washington University, and Robert Cloninger, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Genetics, Director of the Center for the Psychobiology of Personality, and the Center for Well-Being at Washington University.

Dr. Cloninger is also the Director for the Anthropedia Institute, the research body of the Anthropedia Foundation.

Dr. Cloninger will co-present "Neurobiology of Human Temperament and Character" with Dr. Sita Kedia, Vice-President of the Anthropedia Foundation. Dr. Kedia received her M.D. from the University of Colorado.

Dr. Cloninger will also deliver another presentation, "The Direction of Evolution: Growth toward Self-awareness, Altruism, & Well-Being." Addressing a bio-psycho-social approach to health promotion, Dr. Helen Herrman and Dr. Lauren Munsch will present "Promotion of Well-Being in Healthcare." Dr. Herrman is Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre in Mental Health and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne. Dr. Munsch earned her M.D. from St. Louis University and is founder, Chairman and CEO of the Anthropedia Foundation. Former President of the World Psychiatric Association, Dr. Juan Mezzich will introduce Friday's second session, "Human Altruism and Cooperation: Needs and the Promotion of Well-Being in Modern Life." Dr. Mezzich is Professor of Psychiatry and Director at the Division of Psychiatric Epidemiology and International Center for Mental Health at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The president of the Anthropedia Foundation, Dr. Kevin Cloninger, will present "Hope Rekindled: Well-Being, Humanism, and Education." Dr. Cloninger received his Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Denver. Dr. Dan German Blazer, II will speak on "Moving Beyond the Nature/Nurture Distinction: Promotion of Transdisciplinary Research." A Geriatric Psychiatry expert, Dr. Blazer is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Community and Family Medicine at Duke University. The conference ends by discussing current assumptions of man as predator, and the positive effects of re-examining man's development. Members of the Anthropedia Institute will discuss implications for education, healthcare, and quality of life. About Anthropedia As the rates of lifestyle and stress-related illness, depression, and anxiety rapidly increase, the Anthropedia Foundation recognizes the need for concrete strategies for improving mental, physical, and social health. Anthropedia is an educational foundation led by a council of experts in medicine, public health, psychiatry, and education who integrate the most effective practices from their fields into a comprehensive approach to health and happiness. Anthropedia creates personal development resources and health education programs that are simple, practical, and powerful. To learn more about Anthropedia, please visit www.anthropedia.org. SOURCE Anthropedia Foundation