Title

The moral animal : evolutionary psychology and everyday life

Description

An accessible introduction to the science of evolutionary psychology and how it explains many aspects of human nature. Unlike many books on the topic, which focus on abstractions like kin selection, this book focuses on Darwinian explanations of why we are the way we are--emotionally and morally--and interweaves episodes from Darwin's own life as illuminating examples. Wright deals particularly well with explaining the reasons for the stereotypical dynamics of the three big "S's:" sex, siblings, and society.

Identifier

1056907

679407731

Creator

Wright, Robert

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1994

Program air date: January 8, 1995

Publisher

Pantheon Books

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations
Notes on front endpaper: The new Darwinian Paradigm/Natural selection 1838. Mike Wright-influence on the book-381. Samuel Smiles self-help. John Stuart Mill-"On Liberty." What was the Victorian age. Darwin's illness. Shrewsbury. Voyage of the Beagle. 10 children. Character-page 219. Behavior=heredity and environment. Free will. What is utilitarianism--philosophical radicalism. [Verso] Role of pain. Evolution. Natural selection. Utilitarianism-Mill. Underlinings/Notes: Underlinings: Origin of Species. Darwinians do not describe differences in terms of genetic differences. B.F. Skinner's behaviorism. Society held together by altruism, compassion, empathy, love, conscience, sense of justice. Mill and political liberals--rosier view of human nature than conservatives, favor looser moral climate. Smile--life is a battle against moral ignorance, selfishness, and vice. Lamb underlines details of Darwin's background, life and goals, discoveries and marriage. He also marks passages on Victorian society and Victorian character. Notes: "Genes," "evolutionary psychology," "self-help book," "Smiles conservative," "Mill liberal," "Clergy," "Ship travel," "wildlife," "natural selection," "men & women are different," "Marital bliss," "selfishness," "cynicism toward self," "help others," "Nantucket winter."

Subject

"Sociobiology."

"Genetic psychology."

"Human behavior."

"Behavior evolution."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

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