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  by yennick & 65 users

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: liked

Author: Ernest Hemingway

Tags: nature novella fight fisherman marlin

2008-02-24

  by scraines

• Current

Type: fiction documentary

Status: —

Authors: teale edwin

Tags: animals nature plants autumn descriptive

2007-08-12

  by mahsdad

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: —

Author: Richard Preston

Tags: history nature dailyshow want

2007-05-03

  by puer

• Current

Type: technical

Status: —

Author: Andre Cailleux

Tags: formation nature earth continents

2007-03-29

  by getpost

• Current

Type: documentary

Status: I recommend

Author: Cheryl Angelina Koehler

Tags: travel california nature

2007-03-10

  by linguamichael

• Current

Type: educational

Status: to read

Author: Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy

Tags: history christianity philosophy faith theology sociology nature

2006-12-29

  by linguamichael & 17 users

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: I recommend

Author: Michael Crichton

Tags: thriller terrorism environment disaster nature

2006-12-28

  by fmellish

• Current

Type: scientific

Status: to read

Author: William Agosta

Tags: smell nature insects chemistry

2006-05-30

  by radiantdaffodil & 13 users

• Current

Type: fiction

Status: on hold

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Tags: women nature appalachia

2006-05-25

  by hydeph & 1 users

• Current

Type: educational

Status: I recommend

Author: Frans De Waal

Tags: science nature humans

Description: When people do evil things, such as when they commit genocides in Bosnia or Rwanda, we callWhen people do evil things, such as when they commit genocides in Bosnia or Rwanda, we call them "animals." If people do altruistic things, such as when they save another's life or give generously to the poor, we attribute this to our noble human morality. We call them "humane."


Both sides of human nature, however, are tied to our biology. This theme of the duality of human nature, hovering between beast and angel, is brought home in Our Inner Ape by looking at our two closest animal relatives, the chimpanzee and the bonobo. The chimpanzee has a reputation as murderous and power-hungry, whereas the bonobo, the hippie of the primate world, seems to prefer to "make love - not war." Both apes are equally close to us on the primate family tree, but comparisons with chimpanzees have thus far dominated the media and literature. This is because until recently little was known about the bonobo. The bonobo's female dominance, cooperative nature, and use of sex to restore peace poses a challenge to certain male-biased theoriesthat equate humanity's aggressiveness with progress.

Over the last few decades, biologists have popularized the image of humans as driven by "selfish genes," doing only what is good for themselves. This message fit the Reagan-Thatcher Zeitgeist of greed as the foundation of the free-market system. Well before Enron and the spate of corporate scandals, however, Western cultures have been placing increasing emphasis on moral responsibility and community. Also within biology, the tone of the debate about human nature has changed drastically over the last few years, from the right of the strongest to the evolution of morality and commitment. This seems the right time, therefore, to present a more complete picture of human nature and human ancestry, one that tries to accommodate both the chimpanzee and the bonobo within us....

2006-04-30