Synopses & Reviews
The concept of altruism, or disinterested concern for another's welfare, has been discussed by everyone from theologians to psychologists to biologists. In this book, evolutionary, neurological, developmental, psychological, social, cultural, and religious aspects of altruistic behavior are examined. It is a collaborative examination of one of humanity's essential and defining characteristics by renowned researchers from various disciplines. Their integrative dialogue illustrates that altruistic behavior is a significant mode of expression that can be studied by various scholarly methods and understood from a variety of perspectives in both the humanities and the sciences. Altruism and Altruistic Love establishes a framework for scholarship on altruism by presenting definitions, a historical overview, a review of contemporary research, and debates in various disciplines, as well as a discussion of directions for future work.
Review
"My brief review cannot do justice to a book of this magnitude. This is a sincere and scholarly effort to build dialogue where there has been very little. Though dense, it is well written and well edited. ... There is a remarkable amount of continuity and coherence for an edited volume. For researchers on topics such as altruism, volunteering, and organizational citizenship behavior, this volume provides a rich and eclectic trove of ideas and reference material."--Personnel Psychology
"This comprehensive overview of current research and thinking about altruism as a vital ethical concern in human affairs is must reading and valuable source material for serious students of these problems."--Theological Studies
"The concept of altruism, or other-centered love and concern, continues to be a critical point of intersection for scientists, ethicists and theologians. Altruism and Altruistic Love (2002) attempts to address the variety of approaches to this multidisciplinary issue. Stephen Post, a Science & Theology News columnist, and colleagues offer profound and inspiring essays that explore the way we think about human altruistic behavior."--Science and Theology News
"My brief review cannot do justice to a book of this magnitude. This is a sincere and scholarly effort to build dialogue where there has been very little. Though dense, it is well written and well edited. ... There is a remarkable amount of continuity and coherence for an edited volume. For researchers on topics such as altruism, volunteering, and organizational citizenship behavior, this volume provides a rich and eclectic trove of ideas and reference material." --Personnel Psychology
"This comprehensive overview of current research and thinking about altruism as a vital ethical concern in human affairs is must reading and valuable source material for serious students of these problems."--Theological Studies
"The concept of altruism, or other-centered love and concern, continues to be a critical point of intersection for scientists, ethicists and theologians. Altruism and Altruistic Love (2002) attempts to address the variety of approaches to this multidisciplinary issue. Stephen Post, a Science and Theology News columnist, and colleagues offer profound and inspiring essays that explore the way we think about human altruistic behavior."--Science and Theology News
"Altogether, the book is a highly interesting read on diverse perspectives on the topic of altruistic love....[T]his collection of essays comes a long way in making a case for unselfish behavior that is as much grounded in cogent philosophical analysis as it is informed by modern evolutionary theory."--Human Nature Review
Synopsis
This text examines evolutionary, neurological, psychological, social, cultural and religious aspects of altruistic behaviour. It presents an overview, a review of contemporary research, and various debates, as well as possible future directions.
Table of Contents
Contributors
General Introduction, Stephen G. Post, Lynn G. Underwood, Jeffrey P. Schloss, and William B. Hurlbut
PART I: DEFINITIONS
Introduction to Part I, Stephen G. Post
1. The ABCs of Altruism, Elliott Sober
2. Pythagorean Bodies and the Body of Altruism, Edith Wyschogrod
3. Morality, Altruism, and Love, Jerome Kagan
4. The Tradition of Agape, Stephen G. Post
Conclusion to Part I, Stephen G. Post
PART II: HUMAN MOTIVATION AND ACTION
Introduction to Part II, Lynn G. Underwood
5. The Human Experience of Compassionate Love: Conceptual Mapping and Data from Selected Studies, Lynn G. Underwood
6. Addressing the Altruism Question Experimentally, C. Daniel Batson
7. Explicating Altruism, Kristen Renwick Monroe
8. Extraordinary Acts of Ordinary People: Faces of Heroism and Altruism, Samuel P. Oliner
Conclusion to Part II, Lynn G. Underwood
PART III: EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Introduction to Part III, Jeffrey P. Schloss
9. A Darwinian Naturalist's Perspective on Altruism, Michael Ruse
10. Relating Self, Others, and Sacrifice in the Ordering of Love, Stephen J. Pope
11. The Fall and Rise and Fall and Rise and Fall and Rise of Altruism in Evolutionary Biology, David Sloan Wilson and Elliott Sober
12. Some Obstacles to Altruism, Melvin Konner
13. Emerging Accounts of Altruism: "Love Creation's Final Law?", Jeffrey P. Schloss
Conclusion to Part III, Jeffrey P. Schloss
PART IV: THE SCIENCE OF ALTRUISM
Introduction to Part IV, William B. Hurlbut
14. Implications for the Neurobiology of Love, Thomas R. Insel
15. A Note on the Neurobiology of Emotions, Antonio R. Damasio
16. Impairment of Interpersonal Social Behavior Caused by Acquired Brain Damage, Hanna Damasio
17. The Communication of Emotions and the Possibility of Empathy in Animals, Stephanie D. Preston and Frans B. M. de Waal
18. Empathy, Evolution, and Altruism, William B. Hurlbut
Conclusion to Part IV, William B. Hurlbut
PART V: RELIGION
Introduction to Part V, Stephen G. Post
19. Science and Religion on the Nature of Love, Don S. Browning
20. Separation, Attachment, and Altruistic Love: The Evolutionary Basis for Medical Caring, Gregory L. Fricchione
21. Compassion out of Wisdom: Buddhist Perspectives from the Past Toward the Human Future, Ruben L.F. Habito
Conclusion to Part V, Stephen G. Post
A Concluding Summary: Future Research Needs on Altruism and Altruistic Love, Stephen G. Post and Lynn G. Underwood
Annotated Bibliography: Research on Personality and Individual Differences in Altruism, Shelley Dean Kilpatrick and Michael E. McCullough
References
List of Articles by Subject
Index