Universal Goods

• Welcome to the BOL Forum on Evolutionary Psychology by John Grohol, 3/19/97
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    • Thanks - and some questions by bill, 6/10/98
      
      

"Universal Goods" is a chapter title for the course guide I'm completing for "Healing the Moral Animal: Lessons from Evolution." The manual runs about 275 pp and will be available in late July, $15 at cost.

"Universal Goods" takes Complexity Theory and presents an idea that the mutual cooperation we term "morality" has its counterparts not only in reciprocity but also in interactions that occur at the molecular level. The premise is that units that do not "cooperate" will be eroded by the 2nd Law. Likewise for living creatures.

Start with the "Adapted Mind" by Barkow, Cosmides, & Tooby for human universals. Matt Ridley "Origin of Virtue" is more readable but more limited in the data surveyed. (Barkow et al can be a little boring with some of the manifestos, some of which don't match data or "common sense.")

Check the reading list for HTMA, posted below

Thanks for your response!

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