
A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are
by Frans de Waal
Human beings are just as closely related to the gentle bonobos as they are to the aggressive chimpanzees. Frans de Waal compares the lifestyle of these two species of apes, in whose groups opposing characteristics such as sympathy and violence, fairness and greed, and dominance and community spirit clash with one another. Their sexual behavior tells us that we need to rethink the origins of our morality.
Moral apes
Hippies
Solidarity
Reconciliation
Powerful chimpanzee males
Ancestors
Sperm competition
Prevention of infanticide
Fairness among apes
Empathy
Cruelty
“Old” morality
The two inner apes
Using our inner apes
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