The Goodness Paradox : : the Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution

Locations
Call Number: 155.9 Wr, Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Biology / Wrangham, Richard W.
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout	155.9 Wr	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Adult Books 4-week checkout	Adult Book / Nonfiction / Science & Nature / Biology / Wrangham, Richard W.	4-week checkout	On Shelf

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.
"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.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

Library Journal Review
CHOICE Review
Publishers Weekly Review
Summary / Annotation
Table of Contents
Excerpt
Author Notes

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

No community reviews. Write one below!