The Origins of Virtue

Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation

| 4.11 | 3,967 ratings and reviews

Recommended by Naval Ravikant, Paul Seabright, and 2 others. See all reviews

Ranked #33 in Evolutionary Psychology, Ranked #42 in Evolution — see more rankings.

If, as Darwin suggests, evolution relentlessly encourages the survival of the fittest, why are humans compelled to live in cooperative, complex societies? In this fascinating examination of the roots of human trust and virtue, a zoologist and former American editor of the Economist reveals the results of recent studies that suggest that self-interest and mutual aid are not at all incompatible. In fact, he points out, our cooperative instincts may have evolved as part of mankind?s natural selfish behavior--by exchanging favors we can benefit ourselves as well as others.Brilliantly... more
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We've comprehensively compiled reviews of The Origins of Virtue from the world's leading experts.

Naval Ravikant CEO & Co-Founder/AngelListGetting into the more evolution, science kind of books, I really highly, highly recommend picking up [...] Origins of Virtue. (Source)

Paul Seabright Yes, exactly. In one sense Matt Ridley was restating the message which was already there in The Descent of Man but which had rather been forgotten. What this book did was popularise the idea that cooperation can indeed be favoured by natural selection. (Source)

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