On Human Nature
E. O. Wilson's 1978 Pulitzer-winning account of human nature through sociobiology.
At a glance
Key ideas
No blank slate, Aggression, Altruism …
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Jerry Coyne, Bryan Walsh
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- Wilson tries to explain human nature and society through sociobiology, extending the Darwinian revolution into the social sciences and humanities.
- He argues that evolution has left traces on generosity, self-sacrifice, aggression, sex and religion.
- Genes act as biases that nudge development rather than fix it, so the mind is not a blank slate.
- He ends by asking which of three mythologies, Marxism, traditional religion or scientific materialism, offers hope.
Why it matters
- It brought sociobiology to a general readership and won the Pulitzer Prize; its claims about human behaviour remain contested.
Key facts
- Author
- E. O. Wilson1
- Published
- 1978; second edition 20041
- Award
- Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, 19791
- Sequel to
- The Insect Societies (1971) and Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975)1
- Recognition
- Named by Time in 2011 among the 100 best and most influential books in English since 19231
Key ideas
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No blank slate1
Genetic factors bias development and accumulate into large differences.
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Aggression1
Humans are innately aggressive, but not through a Freudian drive.
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Altruism1
"Hard-core" altruism is the enemy of civilisation; "soft-core" altruism expects a return.
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Religion1
Religion persuades individuals to put the group above themselves.
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The epic of evolution2
"The evolutionary epic is probably the best myth we will ever have."
Reception
Connections
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