Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others
Author(s): David Sloan Wilson
David Sloan Wilson, one of the world's leading evolutionists, addresses a question that has puzzled philosophers, psychologists, and evolutionary biologists for centuries: Does altruism exist naturally among the Earth's creatures? The key to understanding the existence of altruism, Wilson argues, is by understanding the role it plays in the social organization of groups. Groups that function like organisms indubitably exist, and organisms evolved from groups. Evolutionists largely agree on how functionally organized groups evolve, ending decades of controversy, but the resolution casts altruism in a new light: altruism exists but shouldn't necessarily occupy center stage in our understanding of social behavior. After laying a general theoretical foundation, Wilson surveys altruism and group-level functional organization in our own species-in religion, in economics, and in the rest of everyday life. He shows that altruism is not categorically good and can have pathological consequences. Finally, he shows how a social theory that goes beyond altruism by focusing on group function can help to improve the human condition in a practical sense. Does Altruism Exist? puts old controversies to rest and will become the center of debate for decades to come.
General Information
- :
- : Yale University Press
- : Yale University Press
- : 0.363
- : 03 March 2015
- : United States
- : books
Other Specifications
- : David Sloan Wilson
- : Hardback
- : 224
More About The Product
"David Sloan Wilson's special take on the evolution of altruism, and how in our species it is fortified by religion and morality, has inspired fierce debate. It is explained here in a most lively and readable manner."-Frans de Waal, author of The Bonobo and the Atheist -- Frans de Waal "In this highly readable book a remarkable philosophical mind is at work, inspired by applying evolutionary theory to real life as we know it. The message is that altruism is alive and well, and it can actually be taken into account as we plan a better modern life---as long as we focus on the right kinds of altruism."-Chris Boehm, University of South California -- Chris Boehm "David Sloan Wilson has a nose for important problems and his writing is always interesting and provocative. This work on altruism - which extends across a range of problems including religion -- will enhance his deservedly high reputation. If you read only one book on the topic, make it this one."-Michael Ruse, Director of the Program in History and Philosophy of Science, Florida State University -- Michael Ruse
David Sloan Wilson is president of the Evolution Institute and SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He is the author of Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society.
