Pulitzer Prize General Non Fiction Winner
On Human Nature
by Edward O. Wilson
Summary
A landmark argument that core features of human behavior, including aggression, sexuality, altruism, and religion, are shaped by an evolved biological inheritance shared with other social animals. Wilson extends the framework of sociobiology from insects and primates to the human species, contending that culture and genes coevolve rather than operate independently. The book sparked fierce debate about biological determinism, free will, and the proper boundaries between science and ethics.
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Historical Context & Significance
Wilson's work was highly controversial at the time, as it challenged the prevailing view that human behavior was entirely a "blank slate" shaped by culture.