The Moral Animal

Résumé du livre

Robert Wright is an American journalist whose work spans the fields of history, politics, psychology and religion. He is the editor of New Republic, a senior fellow at the non-partisan think tank New America and a regular contributor to magazines such as the New Yorker and Atlantic Monthly. Wright’s previous books include Three Scientists and Their Gods (1988) and Nonzero (1999).

Fairy tales often romanticize the union of wealth and poverty, a theme rooted in evolutionary psychology, which highlights how social status and wealth influence familial preferences for children. Research from the 1970s and 1980s supports this, showing that affluent families often favor sons for their reproductive potential, while poorer families prioritize daughters, who are more likely to marry into wealth. Similarly, altruism, though seemingly selfless, is argued to be self-serving, with roots in early human communities where reciprocity ensured survival. Morality, too, is shaped by social instincts, as demonstrated by studies showing how the need for approval influences ethical behavior. Evolutionary psychology also sheds light on gendered behaviors, such as women seeking material security through multiple partners to benefit their offspring, and men prioritizing youth, beauty, and intelligence in long-term mates to ensure genetic success. Even seemingly egalitarian societies, like the Ache of Paraguay, reveal hidden hierarchies favoring skilled individuals, though research suggests leadership is shaped by circumstance rather than genetics. Lastly, jealousy, while often stigmatized, is a natural evolutionary response, with men and women exhibiting distinct reactions tied to reproductive strategies. These insights collectively underscore the profound influence of evolutionary forces on human behavior and societal structures.

Pour lire le reste du livre, téléchargez Bitely