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The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates
Norton. 2013. 304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393073775. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9780393089196. SCI
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De Waal (psychology, Emory Univ.; director, Living Links Ctr., Yerkes Primate Ctr.; The Age of Empathy) is known for his work on moral behavior in chimpanzees and bonobos. Here he explains that unlike their aggressive cousins, chimpanzees, bonobos avoid aggression when possible, employing mutual grooming and sex play instead to ease social tension. Both chimps and bonobos help others, even without hope of gain. This is evidence, de Waal argues, that morality isn't rooted in top-down reasoning or rules but in bottom-up "gut" behavior. From these observations, de Waal segues to an intriguing but less convincing argument against dogmatic atheism (e.g., as defined by Sam Harris or Christopher Hitchins). That atheism, de Waal argues, leaves us nothing to hold on to, but we need something.
VERDICT This intriguing book is a hybrid: half science, half personal speculation. Given the persistent view that all animals, even human ones, are motivated solely by self-interest (what de Waal calls "veneer theory," i.e., moral outside, amoral inside), this is a book worth reading. It's also exceptionally well written. It should appeal to the lay reader who enjoys keeping up with today's scientific discussions.
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