The Roots of Evil

Using examples from the animal kingdom, the author shows how the components of human behaviour, from altruism to xenofobia, from imitation to child upbringing, contribute to our view of the world and our impact on nature. He explains how they account for some of the environmental evils of our time, with suggestions as to how we may be able to alleviate them. The civilised, or rather, self-domesticated humans managed to do away with nearly all the usual factors of natural selection. It is likely that all dysfunctions of human behaviour and ecology are rooted in this fallacy. Still, there are many ways to rehabilitate both ourselves and the damage we have caused. The first step: a critical look at ourselves both as individuals and as a society, a frank self-assessment without double standards or rose-tinted glasses. Then learn from our mistakes and faults, forswear our crimes and attempt to atone for them.