Darwinian Politics: The Evolutionary Origin of Freedom None ed. Edition

by Paul H. Rubin (Author)

8 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0813530963

ISBN-10: 0813530962

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Darwinian Politics is the first book to examine political behavior from a modern evolutionary perspective. Here, Paul H. Rubin discusses group or social behavior, including ethnic and racial conflict; altruism and cooperation; envy; political power; and the role of religion in politics ¾ issues that have formed the hallmark of human social behavior.

Adopting a Darwinian perspective, Rubin demonstrates why certain political-moral philosophies succeed or fail in modern Western culture. He begins by showing relationships between biology and natural selection and the history of political philosophy and explains why desirable policies must treat each person as an individual. He considers the notion of group identity and conflict, observing a human propensity to form in-groups, a behavior that does not necessitate but often leads to deviancies such as racism. In discussing altruism, Rubin shows that people are willing to aid the poor if they are convinced that the recipients are not shirkers or free loaders. This explains why recent welfare reforms are widely viewed as successful. Envy, a trait that is often counterproductive in today’s world, is also addressed. In comparing major moral philosophical systems, Rubin contends that utilitarianism is broadly consistent with our evolved preferences. He illustrates evolutionary premises for religious belief and for desires to regulate the behavior of others, and how in today’s world such regulation may not serve any useful purpose.

Ultimately, Rubin argues that humans naturally seek political freedom, and modern Western society provides more freedom than any previous one. In light of his analysis, the author extrapolates that, while there are still areas for improvements, humans have done a remarkably good job of satisfying their evolved political preferences.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Adopting a Darwinian perspective, Rubin demonstrates why certain political-moral philosophies succeed or fail in modern Western culture. He begins by showing relationships between biology and natural selection and the history of political philosophy and explains why desirable policies must treat each person as an individual. He considers the notion of group identity and conflict, observing a human propensity to form in-groups, a behavior that does not necessitate but often leads to deviancies such as racism. In discussing altruism, Rubin shows that people are willing to aid the poor if they are convinced that the recipients are not shirkers or free loaders. This explains why recent welfare reforms are widely viewed as successful. Envy, a trait that is often counterproductive in today's world, is also addressed. In comparing major moral philosophical systems, Rubin contends that utilitarianism is broadly consistent with our evolved preferences. He illustrates evolutionary premises for religious belief and for desires to regulate the behavior of others, and how in today's world such regulation may not serve any useful purpose.

Ultimately, Rubin argues that humans naturally seek political freedom, and modern Western society provides more freedom than any previous one. In light of his analysis, the author extrapolates that, while there are still areas for improvements, humans have done a remarkably good job of satisfying their evolved political preferences.

About the Author

Paul H. Rubin is a professor of economics and law at Emory University. He is the author of Managing Business Transactions: Controlling the Costs of Coordinating, Communicating, and Decision Making, and Promises, Promises: Contracts in Russia and Other Post-Communist Economies.

Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Rutgers University Press; None ed. edition (August 7, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0813530962
ISBN-13: 978-0813530963
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.5 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 8 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,091,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2522 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political Ideologies
- #3121 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Democracy
- #4533 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Physics

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Interesting evolutionary view of human politics

May 11, 2008

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Paul Rubin begins this book by noting a conclusion that he reaches (Page xi): ". . .modern western nations, and particularly the United States, are the most effective societies for satisfying our evolved political preferences."

Critical for understanding human behavior is an understanding of the "environment of evolutionary adaptedness" (EEA), the environment in which humankind evolved. This is important, because our major behavioral patterns were developed then, as adaptations to a particular environment.
He traces key features of human social behavior from that period.

Power today may feature hierarchies within sectors. But government today (Page 127) "is really only one player among many and often not the key or most important player. Capitalism creates an unlimited number of hierarchies, so there is no need to compete only in the political hierarchy."

There are fascinating chapters, based on human evolutionary history, on such subjects as envy, sharing, groups, religion, and decision-making (in the political world). This is, in the end, a fascinating work.

One can raise criticisms. Are capitalist hierarchies separate from political hierarchies and, therefore, a check on political power? Or are they mutually reinforcing? In which case, things might not look so rosy. Are we really bound by the environment of the EEA? Some have hypothesized the possibility of rapid genetic change (such as via the punctuated equilibrium theory of evolution). Would this raise questions about his EAA thesis?

Despite such questions, this is a well written and worthwhile book to examine.

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fefl

Very disappointing!

August 10, 2003

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I have reviewed books for many professional journals for a good many years. I also spend annually an inordinate sum of money in profesional and in lay books. I am a psychiatrist. This alone, may explain why I had a professional reason to purchase this book.
Now, for the review:
From the beginnig of his book Rubin assumes that he can stretch his own understanding of pre-history to buttress and prove his assumptions, and to argue his theories and speculations as well. (An example of this follows in due course during this review.)
"I" is the ultimate weapon the author uses throughout the book to set the grounds for his assertions (often wildly dicey) and authoritatively sounding: "I argue that the state of nature in which humans were lone individuals and in which there were no rules never existed and could not, in principle, exist." This one is just but one vignette of too many instances of the solipsistic approach Rubin inflicts on his readers and that he seems to prefer to bolster his arguments.
That sort of thing may sound good to some. But where are the missing facts and pieces of evidence to aver such ideas? But that's not all, as the fun of speculating becomes intoxicating this author tries to persuade the reader that he can explain the acquisition of wealth, the complexities of religiosity, the origin of envy and (even) the success of the field of economics, which he has now wedded (shakily) to Darwin's theories --- But he fails to convince me; a lone, chronic and dogged student of Evolution and Darwin.
The field of "Darwinian Psychiatry (and/or Psychology)" whatever those may be; are too young to promote their validity based on fantasy and speculation.
I found this book, very disappointing indeed.

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Jerry Brito

Political behavior thru the lens of evolutionary psychology

May 12, 2003

Format: Paperback

In good evolutionary psychologist form, Paul Rubin tries to explain our existing political behaviors by looking at the Era of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA). The EEA is the time during the Pleistocene when humans became humans and our ancestors' innate tendencies were etched into our genes. This analysis benefits from the fact that Rubin is an economist and understands how incentives matter in human behavior. Many other writers lack this insight; most notably the great Richard Dawkins who, after articulating selfish gene theory, tries to wish away his conclusions.
It is interesting that Rubin, a professor of law and economics at Emory, was a libertarian when he began to write this book but ended up questioning the rigidity of that ideology. You can see this come through when he begins the book by dispelling myths on both sides of the traditional political spectrum. He explains that the state of nature is a useless metaphor because humans never existed in such an anarchic state, and also that humans are not malleable, but instead have a certain human nature.
Our species' patrilocality is an important theme that runs throughout the book. Male dominance and the ease with which males could form political alliances in the EEA is key, according to Rubin. But while that ease made some males dominant, it also helped those left out to join together to make sure they weren't too dominant. Rubin also distinguishes between male and female evolved risk preferences and how this affects political behavior today.
Economists assume rationality in their models, but empirical studies would suggest that people don't behave so sensibly. Rubin takes a stab at reconciling this bogeyman of economics by positing that behavior that seems unreasonable today may have been reasonable in the EEA. For example, evolving in a zero-sum world leads to a mistrust of capitalism in today's nonzero world. Also other arguably irrational behavior, like religious conviction, may still be useful to genes today.
In sum, the book is a good survey of the evolutionary psychology literature with Rubin's insights about what it means for political behavior. This is decidedly an academic text, but a good one and ou shouldn't be put off by this because it's very readable--especially if you understand the language of evolution and economics. I would certainly recommend it.

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Darwinian Politics: The Evolutionary Origin of Freedom None ed. Edition

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