Richard Powers, author of *Bewilderment* and Pulitzer Prize-winner *The Overstory*, delves into the essence of altruism and kinship. He explores whether our genetic makeup underpins our capacity for selflessness, suggesting that storytelling fosters a sense of belonging. Powers highlights how kinship transcends blood ties, rooted instead in shared values and experiences. He reflects on the interconnectedness of nature, especially through trees, framing them as symbols of interdependence and the cooperative spirit needed to address today's ecological challenges.
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insights INSIGHT
Hamilton's Rule and Kinship
Hamilton's rule suggests a genetic basis for altruism, where sacrifice is determined by relatedness and benefit.
This implies a quantifiable threshold for sacrificing oneself for others, even across species.
insights INSIGHT
Expanding Kinship
Perceived kinship expands during external threats, uniting disparate groups.
Humans often defy genetic logic, sacrificing for non-relatives based on shared values or circumstances.
insights INSIGHT
Beyond Genetic Kinship
Human kinship transcends genetics, encompassing shared purpose and interdependence.
This capacity for expanded kinship might be key to our survival.
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The Overstory is a sweeping and impassioned work of environmental fiction that follows the lives of nine individuals whose paths are intertwined by their connections to trees. The novel is structured in four parts – 'Roots', 'Trunk', 'Crown', and 'Seeds' – mirroring the parts of a tree. It delves into themes of ecology, climate change, and the interconnectedness of trees and humans, using a blend of science, history, and magical realism. The book advocates for the protection of trees and the natural world, posing critical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment and the long-term consequences of human actions[2][4][5].
Kinship
Kinship
Belonging in a World of Relations
Gavin Van Horn
John Hausdoerffer
Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book is a five-volume collection of essays exploring the connections between ecology, culture, and spirituality. It delves into the concept of kinship and belonging in a world of interconnected relationships. The essays offer diverse perspectives on how humans can find kinship with other creatures and recognize our shared narrative. The book aims to foster a deeper understanding of our place within the natural world and promote a sense of responsibility towards it. It is edited by Gavin Van Horn, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and John Hausdoerffer.
Bewilderment
Richard Powers
Set in a near-future dystopian America, 'Bewilderment' follows Theo Byrne, an astrobiologist, and his nine-year-old son Robin, who is diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, and other conditions. After the death of his wife, Alyssa, Theo resists psychoactive medication for Robin and instead turns to an experimental neurofeedback therapy that involves training Robin to mimic his mother's brain patterns. The novel explores themes of family, environmental degradation, and the search for life beyond Earth, highlighting the deep bond between Theo and Robin as they face the challenges of their troubled world.
As part of a new Emergence series, we’re publishing a selection of essays from Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations—a five-volume collection edited by Gavin Van Horn, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and John Hausdoerffer—including this poignant essay from Richard Powers. Richard is the author of twelve novels, including the newly released Bewilderment, and The Overstory, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. In this essay, as he reflects on whether there is a genetic basis for altruism, Richard arrives at story as the vehicle through which human beings can find kinship with other creatures—recognizing and remembering our shared narrative in the urgent drama of this moment.
Emergence Magazine Podcast 
