Summary: Since moving beyond the nature versus nurture debate, sociological research into the biological bases and consequences of social behavior has generated new insights about human nature. A distinguished panel of sociologists will discuss the newest efforts to conceptualize human nature, drawing on the latest research and two new comprehensive books: Jonathan Turner’s The Sociology of Human Nature and Nicholas Christakis' Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society. The discussion will focus on recent theoretical arguments regarding the co-evolution of genes and culture and also highlight recent empirical research on how social conditions become biologically embedded in individuals, emphasizing the interaction between environment and genetics in relation to health, well-being, and prosocial behavior. Virtual Panel at the 2020 American Sociological Association Virtual Engagement Event Co-Sponsored by: the Evolution, Biology, and Society Section, the Altruism, Morality, Social Solidarity Section, the Medical Sociology Section, and the Rationality and Society Section of the American Sociological Association Panelists: Marion Blute, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Toronto Jonathan H. Turner, University Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara and Riverside Ronald L. Simons, Regents Professor of Sociology, University of Georgia Organizer and Presider: Dawn T. Robinson, Professor of Sociology, University of Georgia
