| Contents |
1. Insect behavior and social evolution. Introduction: From cricket taxonomy to a Darwinian philosophy of man / by Mary Jane West-Eberhard ; Comparative animal behavior and systematics. 1969 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander -- 2. Cooperation. Introduction: A new theory of cooperation / by Steven Frank ; The biology of moral systems. 1986 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander -- 3. Eusociality in naked mole rats. Introduction: Richard Alexander, the naked mole-rat, and the evolution of eusociality / by Paul Sherman ; The evolution of eusociality. 1991 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander, K.M. Noonan, and B.J. Crespi -- 4. Parent-offspring conflict and manipulation. Introduction: The evolution of social behavior / by David Queller ; The evolution of social behavior. 1974 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander -- 5. Biology and culture. Introduction / by Mark Flinn ; Evolution and culture. [1979] (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander -- 6. Intergroup competition and within-group cooperation. Introduction: Thinking about human aggression, past and present / by Bobbi Low ; Review (excerpt) of On aggression by Konrad Lorenz and The territorial imperative by Robert Ardrey. 1969 / R.D. Alexander and D.W. Tinkle -- 7. Kinship, parental care, and human societies. Introduction: Concealed ovulation in humans : further evidence / by Beverly Strassmann ; Concealment of ovulation, parental care, and human social evolution. 1979 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander and K.M. Noonan -- 8. Human childhood. Altriciality, neoteny, and pleiotropy / by Paul Turke ; Altriciality : why are human babies helpless? 1990 / R.D. Alexander -- 9. Indirect reciprocity. Introduction: The basis of morality : Richard Alexander on indirect reciprocity / by Karl Sigmund ; The biology of moral systems. 1986 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander -- 10. The evolution of intelligence. Introduction: Reflections of the evolution of the human psyche / by R.I.M. Dunbar ; Evolution of the human psyche. 1989 / R.D. Alexander -- 11. Evolution of morality. Introduction: Twelve (more) things about the evolution of morality that make people nauseous / by David Lahti ; Biology and the moral paradoxes / R.D. Alexander -- 12. Evolution and humor. Introduction: The adaptive significance of humor / by Stan Braude ; Ostracism and indirect reciprocity : the reproductive significance of humor. 1986 / R.D. Alexander -- 13. Ecological constraints and human cooperation. Introduction: Darwin's question : how can sterility evolve? / by Laura Betzig ; The evolution of eusociality. 1991 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander, K.M. Noonan, and B.J. Crespi -- 14. Evolution and religion. Introduction: The concept of God as a metaphor for social unity : Richard Alexander's hypothesis / by William Irons ; Religion, evolution and the quest for global harmony - original essay for this volume / R.D. Alexander -- 15. Evolution and the arts. Introduction: Cornerstone to capstone : Richard Alexander on social selection and the arts / by Kyle Summers ; Evolutionary selection and the nature of humanity. 2003 (excerpt) / R.D. Alexander. |
| Abstract |
"Richard D. Alexander is an accomplished entomologist who turned his attention to solving some of the most perplexing problems associated with the evolution of human social systems. Using impeccable Darwinian logic and elaborating, extending and adding to the classic theoretical contributions of pioneers of behavioral and evolutionary ecology like George Williams, William Hamilton and Robert Trivers, Alexander developed the most detailed and comprehensive vision of human social evolution of his era. His ideas and hypotheses have inspired countless biologists, anthropologists, psychologists and other social scientists to explore the evolution of human social behavior in ever greater detail, and many of his seminal ideas have stood the test of time and come to be pillars of our understanding of human social evolution. This volume presents classic papers or chapters by Dr. Alexander, each focused on an important theme from his work. Introductions by Dr. Alexander's former students and colleagues highlight the importance of his work to the field, describe more recent work on the topic, and discuss current issues of contention and interest."--Publisher's website. |
