The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness
- 作者
- 出版社 W.W. Norton & Co.
- 出版时间 2011年11月
- ISBN 9780393339994
- 定价 228.30
内容简介
Survivalofthefittestorsurvivalofthenicest?Sincethedawnoftimemanhascontemplatedthemysteryofaltruism,butitwasDarwinwhoposedthequestionmoststarkly.Fromtheselflessanttothestingingbeetothemanlayingdownhislifeforastranger,evolutionhasyieldedagoodnessthatintheoryshouldneverbe.Setagainstthesweepingtaleof150yearsofscientificattemptstoexplainkindness,ThePriceofAltruismtellsforthefirsttimethemovingstoryoftheeccentricAmericangeniusGeorgePrice(19221975),ashestrivestoanswerevolution'sgreatestriddle.Anoriginalandpenetratingpictureoftwentiethcenturythought,itisalsoadeeplypersonaljourney.FromtheheightsoftheManhattanProjecttotheinspiredequationthatexplainsaltruismtothedepthsofhomelessnessanddespair,Price'slifeembodiestheparadoxesofDarwinsenigma.Histragicsuicideinasquattersflat,amongthevagabondstowhomhegaveallhispossessions,providestheultimatecontemplationonthepossibilityofgenuinebenevolence.
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