Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals

Book Details

• Publisher: Harvard University Press

• Author: Frans B. M. de Waal

• Language: English

• Edition: Reprint

• ISBN: 9780674356610

• Pages: 368

• Binding: Paperback

About the Book

In Good Natured: The Origins of Right and Wrong in Humans and Other Animals, renowned primatologist Frans B. M. de Waal challenges the long-held belief that ethics is uniquely human. He makes a compelling case for the idea that moral behavior is not a trait exclusive to humans, but is deeply rooted in biological evolution, shared by humans and animals alike.

Through a detailed examination of animal behavior, de Waal argues that the foundation of ethics is based on empathy, fairness, and cooperation, which are observable in both humans and various animal species. Drawing on extensive research, including studies on primates and other social animals, he illustrates that moral behavior is as much a product of evolutionary biology as any other characteristic we associate with survival and social living.

This thought-provoking work invites readers to rethink the origins of ethics, suggesting that the capacity for morality has evolved through natural selection and is present in a wide array of species. Good Natured is a groundbreaking exploration that merges biology, psychology, and ethics, offering fresh insights into the nature of moral behavior across the animal kingdom, and provides a crucial foundation for understanding the ethical dimensions of human existence.