The Moral Animal: The New Science of Evolutionary PsychologyEvery so often the world of ideas is shaken by what the philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn famously dubbed a "paradigm shift". As Robert Wright shows in this pathbreaking book, such a shift is occurring now - one that will change the way people see their lives and the way they choose to live their lives. From the work of evolutionary biologists and of scholars all across the social sciences, a new science called evolutionary psychology is emerging, and with it a radically revised view of human nature and the human mind. In its light, the oldest and most basic questions look different and wholly new questions arise. Are men and women really built for monogamy? What kinds of self-deception are favored by evolution, and why? How and why do childhood experiences make a person more or less conscientious? What is the evolutionary logic behind office politics - or politics in general? Why is there a love-hate relationship between siblings? When, if ever, is love truly pure? Is the human sense of justice - and of just retribution - innate? Does it truly serve justice? This lucidly written book is set in a fitting context: the life and work of Charles Darwin. Wright not only shows which of Darwin's ideas about human nature have survived the test of time, he retells - from the perspective of evolutionary psychology - the stories of Darwin's marriage, his family life, and his career ascent. All three look as they have never looked before. The Moral Animal challenges us to see ourselves, for better or worse, under the clarifying lens of evolutionary psychology. Wright argues powerfully that, though many of our "moral sentiments" have a deep biological basis, so does our tendency to fool ourselvesabout our goodness. If we want to live a truly moral life, we must first understand what kind of animal we are. |
Contents
Darwin and Us | 3 |
SEX ROMANCE AND LOVE | 17 |
Darwin Comes of Age | 19 |
Copyright | |
26 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of ... Robert Wright Limited preview - 2010 |
The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of ... Robert Wright Limited preview - 1995 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptation animals basic behavior believe better chapter Charles common course cultures Darwin Darwinian designed doubt early effect environment evidence evolution evolutionary example explain fact father favor feel female friends genes genetic give given grow happiness hard human human nature idea interest investment kind later lead least less living logic look male marriage married mate matter mean Mill mind moral natural selection never noted offspring once organisms parents perhaps person political probably psychology question reason reciprocal altruism relative reproductive respect seems sense sexual siblings social society sometimes sort species status strategy success suggests sure tend theory things thought Trivers turn University various Victorian wife Wilson woman women wrote York young
References to this book
Ties that Bind: A Social Contracts Approach to Business Ethics Thomas Donaldson,Thomas W. Dunfee No preview available - 1999 |
The Robot's Rebellion: Finding Meaning in the Age of Darwin Keith E. Stanovich No preview available - 2005 |