Crespi, B. J., Summers, K. [eds] - Human Social Evolution. The Foundational Works of Richard D. Alexander [2013]

"Richard D. Alexander is an accomplished entomologist who turned his attention to solving some of the most perplexing problems associated with the evolution of human social systems. Using impeccable Darwinian logic and elaborating, extending and adding to the classic theoretical contributions of pioneers of behavioral and evolutionary ecology like George Williams, William Hamilton and Robert Trivers, Alexander developed the most detailed and comprehensive vision of human social evolution of his era. His ideas and hypotheses have inspired countless biologists, anthropologists, psychologists and other social scientists to explore the evolution of human social behavior in ever greater detail, and many of his seminal ideas have stood the test of time and come to be pillars of our understanding of human social evolution. This volume presents classic papers or chapters by Dr. Alexander, each focused on an important theme from his work. Introductions by Dr. Alexander's former students and colleagues highlight the importance of his work to the field, describe more recent work on the topic, and discuss current issues of contention and interest."--Publisher's website. Contributors Preface Introduction – Kyle Summers and Bernard Crespi PART I} General Foundations 1. Insect Behavior and Social Evolution Introduction: From Cricket Taxonomy to a Darwinian Philosophy of Man by Mary Jane West-Eberhard, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Excerpt from Alexander, R. D. 1969. Comparative animal behavior and systematics. In: Systematic Biology. Proceedings of the International Conference on Systematics (Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 1967). National Academy of Sciences Publication 1962: 494–517. 2. Cooperation Introduction: A New Theory of Cooperation by Steven Frank, University of California at Irvine Excerpt from: Alexander, R.D. 1986. The Biology of Moral Systems. New York: Aldine Press. 3. Eusociality in Naked Mole-Rats Introduction: Richard Alexander, the Naked Mole-Rat, and the Evolution of Eusociality by Paul Sherman, Cornell University Excerpt from Alexander, R.D., Noonan, K.M. and Crespi, B.J. 1991. The Evolution of Eusociality. In P. Sherman, J. Jarvis and R.D. Alexander (eds.). The Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat: 3–44. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 4. Parent-Offspring Conflict and Manipulation Introduction: The Evolution of Social Behavior by David Queller, Washington University Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. 1974. The evolution of social behavior. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 5:325–383. PART II} Human Social Evolution 5. Biology and Culture Introduction by Mark Flinn, University of Missouri Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. Evolution and culture. In Evolutionary Biology and Human Social Behavior: an Anthropological Perspective. N. Chagnon and W.G. Irons (eds.): pp. 59–78. North Scituate, MA: Duxbury Press. 6. Intergroup Competition and Within-group Cooperation Introduction: Thinking about Human Aggression, Past and Present: Alexander and Tinkle’s (1968) Review of Lorenz and Ardrey by Bobbi Low, University of Michigan Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. and Tinkle, D.W. 1968. Review of On Aggression by Konrad Lorenz and The Territorial Imperative by Robert Ardrey. Bioscience 18:245–248. 7. Kinship, Parental Care, and Human Societies Introduction: Concealed Ovulation in Humans: Further Evidence by Beverly Strassmann, University of Michigan Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. and Noonan, K.M. 1979. Concealment of ovulation, parental care, and human social evolution. In N.A. Chagnon and W.G. Irons (eds.). Evolutionary Biology and Human Social Behavior: An Anthropological Perspective. 436–453. North Scituate, MA: Duxbury Press. 8. Human Childhood Introduction: Altriciality, Neoteny, and Pleiotropy by Paul Turke, University of Michigan Altriciality: Why are human babies helpless? In Alexander, R.D. 1990. How Did Humans Evolve? Reflections on a Uniquely Unique Species. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Special Publication 1:1–38. 9. Indirect Reciprocity Introduction: The Basis of Morality, Richard Alexander on Indirect Reciprocity by Karl Sigmund, University of Vienna Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. 1986. The Biology of Moral Systems. New York: Aldine Press. 10. The Evolution of Intelligence Introduction: Reflections on the Evolution of the Human Psyche by R.I.M. Dunbar, Oxford University Alexander, R.D. Evolution of the Human Psyche 1989. In P. Mellars and C. Stringer (eds.). The Human Revolution. Behavioral and Biological Perspectives on the Origins of Modern Humans: pp. 455–513. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 11. Evolution of Morality Introduction: Twelve (More) Things about the Evolution of Morality that Make People Nauseous by David Lahti, City University of New York Alexander, R.D. Biology and the Moral Paradoxes. Journal of Biological Structures 5:389–395. 12. Evolution and Humor Introduction: The Adaptive Significance of Humor by Stan Braude, Washington University Alexander, R.D. Ostracism and Indirect Reciprocity: The Reproductive Significance of Humor. 1986. Ethology and Sociobiology 7:253–270. 13. Ecological Constraints and Human Cooperation Introduction: Darwin’s Question: How Can Sterility Evolve? by Laura Betzig, The Adaptationist Program Excerpt from Alexander, R.D., Noonan, K.M. and Crespi, B.J. 1991. The Evolution of Eusociality. In P. Sherman, J. Jarvis and R.D. Alexander (eds.). The Biology of the Naked Mole-Rat: pp. 3–44. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 14. Evolution and Religion Introduction: The Concept of God as a Metaphor for Social Unity: Richard Alexander’s Hypothesis by William Irons, Northwestern University Religion, Evolution and the Quest for Global Harmony–Original essay for this volume 15. Evolution and the Arts Introduction: Cornerstone to Capstone: Richard Alexander on Social Selection and the Arts by Kyle Summers, East Carolina University & Bernard Crespi, Simon Fraser University Excerpt from Alexander, R.D. 2003. Evolutionary Selection and the Nature of Humanity. Chapter 15. In: V. Hosle and Ch. Illies (eds.). Darwinism and Philosophy. South Bend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press. Index "Richard D. Alexander is an accomplished entomologist who turned his attention to solving some of the most perplexing problems associated with the evolution of human social systems. Using impeccable Darwinian logic and elaborating, extending and adding to the classic theoretical contributions of pioneers of behavioral and evolutionary ecology like George Williams, William Hamilton and Robert Trivers, Alexander developed the most detailed and comprehensive vision of human social evolution of his era. His ideas and hypotheses have inspired countless biologists, anthropologists, psychologists and other social scientists to explore the evolution of human social behavior in ever greater detail, and many of his seminal ideas have stood the test of time and come to be pillars of our understanding of human social evolution. This volume presents classic papers or chapters by Dr. Alexander, each focused on an important theme from his work. Introductions by Dr. Alexander's former students and colleagues highlight the importance of his work to the field, describe more recent work on the topic, and discuss current issues of contention and interest."--Site web de l'éditeur