#753
Mentioned in 27 episodes

The Moral Animal

Why We Are the Way We Are
Book • 1994
In 'The Moral Animal', Robert Wright delves into the world of evolutionary psychology to explain human behavior, emotions, and moral conduct.

The book uses Charles Darwin's life and personal conduct in Victorian England as a case study to illustrate how evolutionary forces shape human behavior.

Wright discusses topics such as jealousy, altruism, and social class, arguing that many of our actions are driven by subconscious genetic strategies aimed at survival and the propagation of our genes.

The book also explores the paradox of how moral and responsible actions can emerge from a strictly Darwinian interpretation of human behavior, suggesting that understanding our evolutionary past can help us override our primitive programming and develop a more common moral outlook.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 27 episodes

Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as the book that introduced him to evolutionary psychology.
2,045 snips
#931 - Arthur Brooks - Harvard Professor Reveals The Secret To Lasting Love & Happiness
Mentioned by
undefined
Tim Pychyl
when discussing the evolutionary psychology of procrastination.
1,066 snips
World's Leading Expert On How To Solve Procrastination - Dr Tim Pychyl
Recommended by
undefined
Chris Williamson
when discussing male adolescent development.
392 snips
#835 - 2.5M Q&A - Naval Ravikant, Quitting Alcohol & Having Kids
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as a great read that still holds up after 33 years.
359 snips
#844 - Dr Laith Al-Shawaf - Why Do Humans Actually Have Emotions?
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as the book that introduced him to evolutionary theory.
332 snips
#960 - Dr Jerry Coyne - The Spiciest Ideas Of Evolutionary Biology
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as a formative book in his understanding of evolutionary psychology.
248 snips
#686 - Dr Gad Saad - 8 Strategies For Avoiding A Life You Hate
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
when discussing books to read before you die.
78 snips
#410 - Vincent Harinam - Why Is The Modern Dating Market A Mess?
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as a source for information about Charles Darwin's marriage.
61 snips
#531 - Russ Roberts - An Economist’s Guide To Life’s Big Decisions
Mentioned by
undefined
Andy Ramage
when discussing evolutionary psychology and its relevance to human behavior.
58 snips
Andy Ramage On Creating The ‘One Year No Beer’ Movement & How Alcohol-Freedom Unlocked His Potential
Recommended by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as an evolutionary psychology book.
57 snips
#574 - 600k Q&A - Masculinity Crisis, Overrated Thinkers & Lex Fridman
Mentioned by
undefined
Nancy Pearcey
to illustrate a secular perspective on male nature.
44 snips
The Toxic War on Masculinity: Nancy Pearcey
Mentioned by
undefined
Jonah Goldberg
when discussing data on gender differences in porn consumption.
34 snips
Incelphobia
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
and
undefined
Geoffrey Miller
as an influential book on evolutionary psychology.
34 snips
#432 - Geoffrey Miller - An Evolutionary Psychologist's Dating Advice
Mentioned by
undefined
Ryan Holiday
as one of Robert Wright's books on evolutionary psychology.
24 snips
#226 - Ryan Holiday - Taking Wisdom From The Lives Of The Stoics
One of
undefined
Chris Williamson
's all-time favorite books, reflecting his interest in evolutionary psychology and dating dynamics.
22 snips
#504 - 400k Q&A - Andrew Tate, Liver King & Red Pill Debates
Recommended by
undefined
Amit Varma
to understand evolutionary biology's perspective on moral instincts.
18 snips
Ep 83: The Atheism Episode
Mentioned by
undefined
Amit Varma
as a book discussing the evolution of marriage, monogamy, and polygamy.
16 snips
Ep 106: The World in 2050
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
, referencing insights from the book about relationship dynamics.
15 snips
#310 - Adam Lane Smith - 15 Harsh Psychology Truths
Mentioned by
undefined
Chris Williamson
as a book that changed his thinking.
15 snips
#338 - Robert Wright - Psychology, Aliens & Averting The Apocalypse

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app