Sociobiology and the Human DimensionCUP Archive, 1983 M01 13 - 286 pages This book is about animals and humans - their common features and their gradual and principle differences. It tells of democracy in baboons, prostitution in hummingbirds, bigamy in wrens, baby sitting in jackals, of chimpanzees at the computer console and of the super-ego of dogs - but it is also about the labour productivity of hunter and gatherer peoples, incest avoidance in animals and humans and of the myths about matriarchy. In a language accessible to any interested layman, Georg Breuer, gives a balanced account of the main ideas and achievements of sociobiology and the main criticisms levelled against it. According to him sociobiology has given many a valuable impetus but sometimes presents a distorted or one-sided view. In particular it has not answered or addressed the question of why man, and man only, is able to identify and feel sympathy with any other human being. The evolution of this most human of all traits confers on us the capability for charity and solidarity and for the happiness of true love which is unattainable by any animal. |
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ability able according actually adapted amongst ancestors animals apes applied assume baboons become behave behaviour patterns biological birds called cells certain certainly chance chimpanzees chimps claim close colony common comparable considered course culture eggs evidence evolution example exist experiments explain fact father females genes genetic give hand hence herd higher human hunting ideas important inborn individual influence interests known language later least less living look males mating means monkeys mother natural nest never observed organism parents particular population possible probably problem produce question reason reproductive rule scientific scientists seems selection sexual similar social societies sociobiology sometimes species structure success territory theory tion troop University usually whereas Wilson women workers writes young