3829 - Why Do Humans…? The Science Behind Our Most Human Behaviors (Elton Bowen)
Course Description
Instructor: Elton Bowen
Why do we dream? Why do we laugh until we cry? Why does music move us? Why do we kiss, hug, fall in love, and tell stories? These everyday experiences feel deeply personal, yet they are shared by people in every culture around the world.
Together, we'll explore these fascinating questions through remarkable true stories, surprising scientific discoveries, memorable film clips, and examples from everyday life. Along the way, we'll discover what neuroscience, psychology, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and history reveal about the behaviors that make us uniquely human.
Rather than focusing on disease or medical treatment, we'll investigate the science behind the moments that connect us to one another. Designed for a general audience with no scientific background, this course invites participants to see familiar experiences through a new lens and perhaps leave with a deeper understanding of themselves and the people around them.
Bio: Born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Atlanta, Elton Bowen is a graduate of Emory University and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He completed his Navy service as a physician specializing in high-risk obstetrics before practicing for 20 years in suburban Phoenix.
Following his retirement after a hand injury, Elton turned his attention to studying the history of medicine. He has delivered numerous lectures to medical professionals, including a popular presentation on the history of handwashing in medicine. When not visiting his daughters in New York City, he continues exploring the history and evolution of his profession.