Death, Hope and Sex: Steps to an Evolutionary Ecology of Mind and Morality

by James S. Chisholm

By showing how and why human nature is what it is, evolutionary theory can help us see better what we need to do to improve the human condition. Following evolutionary theory to its logical conclusion, Death, Hope and Sex uses life history theory and attachment theory to construct a model of human nature in which critical features are understood in terms of the development of alternative reproductive strategies contingent on environmental risk and uncertainty. James Chisholm examines the implications of this model for perspectives on concerns associated with human reproduction, including teen pregnancy, and young male violence. He thus develops new approaches for thorny issues such as the nature-nurture and mind-body dichotomies. Bridging the gap between the social and biological sciences, this far-reaching volume will be a source of inspiration, debate and discussion for all those interested in the evolution of human nature and the potential for an evolutionary humanism.

Genres: Philosophy, Psychology

312 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

Reviews

[Fred R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much philosophy, about which I found him naive, to the point where he could justify to himself some squishy mixing of morality and science. I wish he had gone much more in depth on:

1. the connection between life-history and attachment, which he seemed more to assume than to prove. Shouldn't other environmental factors (pathogens, hunger, etc.) be included in the analysis?
2. potential genetic influences on life-history. He assumed that attachment history (nurture) could explain most of the variance, without really proving it.
3. the causal connection between poverty and high time preference, which he assumed was solely poverty -> high time preference.

That said, I think he's on to something enormously important.