A Cooperative Species Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution

A Cooperative Species
Human Reciprocity and Its Evolution
Samuel Bowles & Herbert Gintis

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Why do humans, uniquely among animals, cooperate in large numbers to
advance projects for the common good? Contrary to the conventional
wisdom in biology and economics, this generous and civic-minded
behavior is widespread and cannot be explained simply by far-sighted
self-interest or a desire to help close genealogical kin. /A
Cooperative Species/ shows that the central issue is not why selfish
people act generously, but instead how genetic and cultural evolution
has produced a species in which substantial numbers make sacrifices to
uphold ethical norms and to help even total strangers.

"Bowles and Gintis stress that cooperation among individuals who are
only distantly related is a critical distinguishing feature of the
human species. They argue forcefully that the best explanation for
such cooperation is altruism. Many will dispute this claim, but it
deserves serious consideration."--Eric Maskin, Nobel Laureate in
Economics



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