The Altruistic Species

The only professor in college who actually taught me anything and legendary ivory tickler, Dr. Andrew Flescher has himself a new book, titled The Altruistic Species: Scientific, Philosophical, and Religious Perspectives of Human Benevolence. The book, co-written by fellow CSU, Chico Professor Daniel L. Worthen and published by the Templeton Foundation Press, deals with age-old question of whether altruism is really just self-interest in disguise or a fundamental aspect of human morality. From the sell sheet:

In the course of their investigation, they make an extended argument for the existence of altruism against competing theories that construe all ostensible cases of benevolence as self-interest in disguise. The authors consider theories of egoism; the role of genetics and evolutionary biology; the psychological states that induce altruistic behavior; philosophical theories of altruism in normative ethics such as Kantian, utilitarian, and Aristotelian models of moral action; and accounts of love of the neighbor in Christianity and Buddhism. Additionally, they offer a new, comprehensive definition of altruism that is inclusive of the insights of each of these perspectives. The Altruistic Species reinvigorates the debate over the prevalence of selfless motivation in human behavior—whether it is a rare or ubiquitous phenomenon, something that is always to be considered exceptional or a capacity that members of any community potentially could develop.

Fuck yes to new reading material. Fuck no to text book pricing ($34.95 in paperback?? Wigga please!). But hey, knowledge is power, and power is priceless.