The Origins of Virtue

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'A brilliant, lucid insight into the profound implications of modern biological thinking . . . With this book Matt Ridley establishes himself as one of the finest of contemporary science writers' - Bryan Appleyard 'Are we driven by a profoundly selfish, determinist impulse? OR is there an escape clause that enables us to be genuinely unselfish and good? . . . In an era in which biological science is challenging traditional ethics, he has raised the debate to a new level of seriousness and importance . . . a fine and intelligent writer' - John Cornwell in the Sunday Times 'Enthralling and provocative - up with the very best products of this golden age of accessible science writing . . . A fascinating and illuminating argument' - Penelope Lively in the Daily Telegraph 'Matt Ridley's splendid book studies co-operation (and conflict) from the genes themselves to modern technological societies . . . 'Our minds have been built by selfishness, but they have been built to be social, trustworthy and co-operative. That is the paradox this book has tried to explain.' It has done it brilliantly' - A.S. Byatt in the Express on Sunday 'The thesis is attractive and well supported with evidence drawn from many disciplines' - Laurence Hurst in the New Scientist 'A tour de force - dashing, apophthegmatic, ingenious in argument and beautifully constructed - Galen Strawson in The Times Literary Supplement

MATT RIDLEY is a research fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs and a Trustee of the International Centre for Life, living in Northumberland. His last book, The Red Queen, was short-listed for the Rhone-Poulenc Prize for science books and the Writers' Guild Award for non-fiction.