The Next Big Idea Daily How We Evolved to Compete in a Cooperative World
Jul 23, 2025
Jonathan Goodman, a social scientist at the University of Cambridge and author of 'Invisible Rivals', explores the intricate balance of cooperation and competition in human nature. He discusses how our ancient instincts shape modern societal challenges like political deceit. Goodman argues against viewing humans as purely altruistic or selfish, emphasizing that our behaviors are influenced by social environments. The role of language in facilitating both cooperation and deception further highlights the complexities of human interaction.
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Humans: Cooperative and Competitive
- Humans are neither purely cooperative nor purely competitive; we can do both depending on context.
- Our dynamic nature allows for great good and terrible harm, requiring discerning trust placement.
Language Enables Hidden Selfish Acts
- Evolution favors those who navigate social groups skillfully rather than just eliminating selfish free riders.
- Language evolved not only for cooperation but also to hide selfish acts, creating invisible rivals.
Intangible Assets Enable Exploitation
- Ancient risk-pooling systems worked because it was hard to hide tangible assets like food and tools.
- Modern societies trade in intangible assets, enabling easier cheating and undermining social norms.
