UNE Center for Global Humanities presents 'What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence' on Oct. 22

What is the meaning of life? Are we humans merely the product of evolution? Or, were we created for a reason?

These are the questions we will explore when the Center for Global Humanities hosts Samuel T. Wilkinson for a lecture titled “What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence” on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m. at Harold Alfond Forum, Room 283, on the UNE Biddeford Campus.

Wilkinson will discuss recent discoveries from a variety of scientific disciplines — ranging from evolutionary biology to cognitive psychology — suggesting there is an overall purpose for human existence. Along the way, he will summarize the latest science from these fields in an attempt to answer some of the deepest questions we ponder concerning human nature. 

Ultimately, Professor Wilkinson will make the case that our innate desire to seek meaning, purpose, and ultimately God, is not at odds with science and evolution.

Wilkinson is associate professor of psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, where he also serves as medical director of the Yale Depression Research Program. He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering, summa cum laude, from Brigham Young University and later his M.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Yale, where he joined the faculty following his post-graduate medical training. His primary research has focused on depression and suicide prevention and has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Wilkinson’s research and articles have been featured in The New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been the recipient of many awards, including Top Advancements & Breakthroughs from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2017 and 2020), Top Ten Psychiatry Papers by the New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch, the Early Career Scholar Award from the American Psychiatric Association, the Samuel Novey Writing Prize in Psychological Medicine (Johns Hopkins), and the Seymour Lustman Award (Yale University).

Wilkinson’s first book, “Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence,” was released in 2024. The book has been named winner of the Best Indie Book Award, the Independent Press Award, the Global Book Award, and the Literary Titan Award. 

“It’s a great honor for us to bring a scholar of Dr. Wilkinson’s caliber to campus,” said CGH Director Josh Pahigian, M.F.A. “I hope our Nor’easter community turns out in full force to learn about his highly interdisciplinary research.”

This will be the third of five events this fall at the Center for Global Humanities, where lectures are always free, open to the public, and streamed live online. View all upcoming CGH events