Iran’s current international image is hardly favorable. Since the Islamic Revolution, the country has established a fundamentalist Islamic government, pursued nuclear weapons development in violation of international law and fought the United States over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
But 2,500 years ago, Persia was among the world’s most advanced civilizations. Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Dynasty built an empire stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indus River. Xenophon, an Athenian historian and disciple of Socrates, even wrote “Cyropaedia” (c. 370 B.C.), examining how Cyrus was educated to become a great ruler.
Are humans inherently good, or are cruelty and wickedness innate? Whatever the ancient debate between Chinese philosophers Mencius and Xunzi, education clearly matters. Children raised by wise parents, exposed to good books, taught by excellent teachers and surrounded by talented friends benefit from those experiences.
But good education cannot guarantee good character. Even Nordic countries renowned for their welfare and education systems have witnessed growing support for neo-Nazi parties. Conversely, remarkable individuals can emerge from poverty and civil conflict in sub-Saharan Africa.
Human behavior reflects both inherited genes and acquired experiences. Knowledge and experiences influence thoughts and actions through synapses that connect neurons in the brain.
Could mapping these connections reveal children’s future preferences and decisions?
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