If evolution by natural selection relentlessly favors self-interest, why
do human beings live in complex societies and show so much cooperative
spirit? In The Origins of Virtue, Matt Ridley, a zoologist and former
American editor of the Economist, shows that recent research in a number
of fields has suggested a resolution of the apparent contradiction
between self-interest and mutual aid. Brilliantly orchestrating the new
findings of geneticists, psychologists, and anthropologists, The Origins
of Virtue re-examines the everyday assumptions upon which we base our
actions towards others, whether we are nurturing parents, siblings, or
trade partners. The Origins of Virtue searches for the roots of that
capacity for trust, contrasts it with the social instincts of ants,
baboons, and naked mole rats, and draws provocative conclusions for our
understanding of politics. Ridley not only traces the evolution of
society but shows us how breakthroughs in computer programming,
microbiology, and economics have all played their role in providing us
with a unique perspective on how and why we relate to each other.