The goodness paradox : the strange relationship between virtue and violence in human evolution / Richard Wrangham.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wrangham, Richard W., 1948- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Human evolution.

Human behavior.

Aggressiveness.

Physical Description:

x, 377 pages ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Pantheon Books, [2019]

Summary:

"Highly accessible, authoritative, and intellectually provocative, a startlingly original theory of how Homo sapiens came to be: Richard Wrangham forcefully argues that, a quarter of a million years ago, rising intelligence among our ancestors led to a unique new ability with unexpected consequences: our ancestors invented socially sanctioned capital punishment, facilitating domestication, increased cooperation, the accumulation of culture, and ultimately the rise of civilization itself. Throughout history even as quotidian life has exhibited calm and tolerance war has never been far away, and even within societies violence can be a threat. The Goodness Paradox gives a new and powerful argument for how and why this uncanny combination of peacefulness and violence crystallized after our ancestors acquired language in Africa a quarter of a million years ago. Words allowed the sharing of intentions that enabled men effectively to coordinate their actions. Verbal conspiracies paved the way for planned conflicts and, most importantly, for the uniquely human act of capital punishment. The victims of capital punishment tended to be aggressive men, and as their genes waned, our ancestors became tamer. This ancient form of systemic violence was critical, not only encouraging cooperation in peace and war and in culture, but also for making us who we are: Homo sapiens"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction: virtue and violence in human evolution

The paradox

Two types of aggression

Human domestication

Breeding peace

Wild domesticates

Belyaev's rule in human evolution

The tyrant problem

Capital punishment

What domestication did

The evolution of right and wrong

Overwhelming power

War

Paradox lost.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781101870907

1101870907

OCLC:

1057730932