A Darwinian Left: Politics, Evolution and Cooperation

Abstract

Peter Singer argues that the view of human nature provided by evolutionary science, particularly evolutionary psychology, is compatible with the ideological framework of the Left and should be incorporated into it. Singer contends that the Left will be better able to achieve its social and economic goals if it incorporates the more accurate view of human nature provided by evolutionary science, concluding that game theory and experiments in psychology offer hope that self-interested people will make short-term sacrifices for the good of others if society provides the right conditions.