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The Origins of Virtue
The Origins of Virtue
argues that the human mind has evolved a special
instinct for social exchange that enables us to reap
the benefits of co-operation, ostracise those who
break the social contract and avoid the trap of being
'rational fools'. It traces the evolution of society
first among genes, then among cells, then in ants,
vampire bats, apes and dolphins, and finally among
human beings. Along the way, it plays games with
computers, traces the psychological roots of football
riots, finds trade to be ten times as old as
economists believe, compares dead mammoths to
lighthouses, explains the evolution of human emotions
and shows how to save the rain forest.
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edition |
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US
edition |
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'Dashing,
apophthegmatic, ingenious in argument and
beautifully constructed'—Galen Strawson
'Enthralling and provocative'— Penelope
Lively
'It has done it brilliantly' – A.S.Byatt
'Bracing, informative, amusing and infuriating by
turns' – Maggie Gee
'I was enthralled by it all' – Ruth Rendell |
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