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Cover of On Human Nature by Edward Osborne Wilson

On Human Nature

  • 260 pages · about 4 hours
  • First published 1978
  • 5 editions

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1 About this book

On Human Nature (1978; second edition 2004) is a book by the biologist E. O. Wilson, in which the author attempts to explain human nature and society through sociobiology. Wilson argues that evolution has left its traces on characteristics such as generosity, self-sacrifice, worship and the use of sex for pleasure, and proposes a sociobiological explanation of homosexuality.

He attempts to complete the Darwinian revolution by bringing biological thought into social sciences and humanities. Wilson describes On Human Nature as a sequel to his earlier books The Insect Societies (1971) and Sociobiology: The New Synthesis (1975).

The book won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Good for readers who want: history and evolution.

  • Sociobiology
  • Sociology
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Social psychology
  • Genetic psychology
  • History
  • Anthropology
  • Evolution

2 About Edward Osborne Wilson

1929–2021

Edward Osborne Wilson (June 10, 1929 – December 26, 2021) was an American biologist, naturalist, ecologist, and entomologist who developed the field of sociobiology. Born in Alabama, Wilson found an early interest in nature and frequented the outdoors. At age seven, he was partially blinded in a fishing accident; due to his reduced sight, Wilson resolved to study entomology.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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