The social conquest of Earth

Book

The social conquest of Earth / Edward O. Wilson.

Summary:

"Refashioning the story of human evolution, Edward O. Wilson draws on his remarkable knowledge of biology and social behavior to demonstrate that group selection, not kin selection, is the premier driving force of human evolution. In a work that James D. Watson calls "a monumental exploration of the biological origins of the human condition," Wilson explains how our innate drive to belong to a group is "both a great blessing and a terrible curse" (Smithsonian magazine). Demonstrating that the sources of morality, religion, and the creative arts are fundamentally biological in nature, the renowned Harvard biologist presents us with the clearest explanation ever produced as to the origin of the human condition and why it resulted in our domination of the Earth's biosphere."--P. [4] of cover.

Record details

ISBN: 9780871404138
ISBN: 0871403633 (pbk.)
ISBN: 9780871403636 (pbk.)
Physical Description: viii, 330 pages : illustrations, map, tables ; 21 cm.
Publisher: New York ; Liveright Publishing Corp., 2013, c2012.

Content descriptions

General Note:: "First published as a Liveright paperback 2013"--T.p. verso.

Originally published: 2012.
Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references ([303]-326) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:: Why does advanced social life exist? The human condition -- Where do we come from? The two paths to conquest ; The approach ; The arrival ; Threading the evolutionary maze ; The creative forces ; Tribalism is a fundamental human trait ; War as humanity's hereditary curse ; The breakout ; The creative explosion ; The sprint to civilization -- How social insects conquered the invertebrate world. The invention of eusociality ; Inventions that advanced the social insects -- The forces of social evolution. The scientific dilemma of rarity ; Insect altruism and eusociality explained ; Insects take the giant leap ; How natural selection creates social instincts ; The forces of social evolution ; The emergence of a new theory of eusociality -- What are we? What is human nature? ; How culture evolved ; The origins of language ; The evolution of cultural variation ; The origins of morality and honor ; The origins of religion ; The origins of the creative arts -- Where are we going? A new enlightenment.