Edward O. Wilson argues that human identity stems from the conflict between individual and group selection. He defines the humanities and sciences as two halves of a single biological history, rooted in the transition to eusociality. The book addresses the genetic foundations of social behavior, explaining how multilevel selection creates a permanent tension between selfish instincts and altruistic cooperation. Wilson uses findings from evolutionary biology and neuroscience to reject religious creation myths, replacing them with a narrative of planetary stewardship and a sensory understanding of how physical environments shaped our species' cognitive evolution.
This book serves readers interested in evolutionary psychology and the biological origins of morality. It appeals to those who seek a materialist explanation for why humans experience internal conflict and how our biological inheritance dictates our social structures. After reading, the audience understands the rift between religious belief and scientific evidence regarding our purpose. Readers walk away with a framework for viewing human culture as a product of DNA and environmental pressures rather than divine design or historical accident.
- Published
- 2014
- Language
- EN
