Morals and the Evolution of Man by Max Simon Nordau
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"Morals and the Evolution of Man" by Max Simon Nordau is a philosophical treatise written in the early 20th century. The work explores the concept of morality from various perspectives, including biological, social, and psychological angles. Nordau argues that morality is not an inherent characteristic of human nature but rather a construct arising from societal needs and interactions. He examines the complexities of moral philosophy and critiques the views of various moral
theorists throughout history. At the start of the book, Nordau presents an intriguing analogy involving a pike and a tench in a segregated aquarium to illustrate the phenomenon of morality. He discusses how the pike repeatedly attempts to attack the tench despite the presence of an invisible barrier, signifying the limitations imposed by moral compulsion. This sets the stage for Nordau’s broader inquiry into human behavior, where he challenges the notion of inherent good and evil in humanity, suggesting that morality evolves as a response to social structures and needs. His critical examination of historical ethical theories reveals the struggle between instinctual behavior and moral reasoning, prompting deeper reflections on why individuals often suppress their natural desires for societal approval and self-control. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Nordau, Max Simon, 1849-1923 |
|---|---|
| Translator | Lewenz, Marie Adèle, 1876- |
| Title | Morals and the Evolution of Man |
| Note | A Translation of "Biologie der Ethik." |
| Credits |
Produced by Adrian Mastronardi and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 49.9 (College-level). Difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | BJ: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Ethics, Social usages, Etiquette, Religion |
| Subject | Ethics, Evolutionary |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 37998 |
| Release Date | Nov 12, 2011 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 584 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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