Moral Animal cover art

Moral Animal

Why We Are the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

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Moral Animal

By: Robert Wright
Narrated by: Greg Thornton
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About this listen

Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animal one of the most provocative science books in recent years. Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics - as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies.

©1995 Robert Wright (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science Sociology Morality Mental Health

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Critic reviews

"An accessible introduction to the science of evolutionary psychology and how it explains many aspects of human nature. Unlike many books on the topic,which focus on abstractions like kin selection, this book focuses on Darwinian explanations of why we are the way we are--emotionally and morally. Wright deals particularly well with explaining the reasons for the stereotypical dynamics of the three big "S's:" sex, siblings, and society." (Amazon.com review)
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Most relevant

Would you listen to Moral Animal again? Why?

Yes. So much information within this book it will defiantly be worth a second and third listen.

What did you like best about this story?

Well its not so much a story but a insightful look at how and why we do things.
Very eye opening and enlightening, helps you understand your own and others actions.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

N/A

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Staring arnold schwarzenegger as the selfish gene. No... N/A

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed listening to this and would definitely recommend it. Especially if you have any interest in psychology, evolution or anthropology.Helps to explain our own and others actions.

Brilliantly engaging book

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One of the best books I have read. Explains evolutionary psychology in an enjoyable and detailed way.

Excellent thought provoking book

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Wright's book is essential reading on, and a monument to the aspirational leanings of early evolutionary psychology. He does an excellent job of benchmarking the scientific understanding of evolution and psychology in the waning years of the 20th century. But the book was much more a work of yearning, than one of sober scientific understanding. Wright intertwines the personal biography of Charles Darwin amidst a continuous stream of speculative theories about the purposive role of reciprocal altruism, relatedness, kin selection, and social 'fitness', in our genetic heritage, using Darwin as a kind of "patient zero" role model for these theories. The goal of all of it, as the title of the book exclaims, is to understand "why we are the way we are".

But Wright doesn't stop there. Despite numerous cautions against the urge to derive rules for living from natural purposes, even appealing directly to G. E. Moore late in the book, he still couldn't help himself but turn the book into an attempt to derive some sort of "moral of the story" from the various theories he'd sketched in the previous chapters. This, I think, was a mistake. It was as if Wright was confused about the purpose of his own book. Is it science, or philosophy?

After a long trek through the psychological and biological literature, suddenly we're thrust into a long discussion on Mill's Utilitarianism, and Darwin's particular flavor of it. And in the end, a meander into the religious tradition to ponder on questions of self-sacrifice, brotherly love, and self-denial. Ultimately, Wright ignores his own warnings, and seems to counsel for a kind of detente between the rational and the biological self, in which we seek self-awareness, but not *too much* self-awareness, and follow Darwin's role model of a psychology cynical of the self, but generous toward others.

As a founding document in the literature of evolutionary psychology, this work is definitely worth the read, but don't go into it expecting much in the way of answers. It's so early in the game, all it has to offer is a long string of questions. Maybe that's it's greatest strength, actually.

Fascinating, and Frustrating

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Interesting but felt a bit long winded at times. the use of Darwin thought-out also seemed a little forced and at times irrelevant.

thought provoking look at the human condition

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Evolutionary psychology is surely a great and fascinating relatively new field of study, it's interesting.

Fascinating

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