Evolution Matters: Natural Selection and the Human Condition

The human condition is comprised of shared experiences – birth, growth, emotion, aspiration, conflict, and mortality. These phenomena have, in the past, been largely examined through the lenses of philosophy and religion. This book examines the human condition from an evolutionary point of view to try to answer the principal question – Why are we the way we are? Why we feel pain, sadness, joy, pleasure, love, and jealousy are examined from an evolutionary standpoint. Our psychology, and our health and diseases, should be seen through an evolutionary lens modulated by, but not entirely controlled by culture and genetics. This is the focus of this book, which sets out to present and analyse a variety of aspects of the human condition from an evolutionary perspective. Throughout the book the author explains our behaviour, psychology, health, and diseases, and even our civilisation, using evolutionary theory as a foundation. The coverage is selective, but broad, and includes many of the popular conceptions and misconceptions regarding the workings of evolution – as well as some that may not have crossed most people’s minds. Readers will be able to better understand who we are and why we behave the way we do.