Our Tribal Future: How to channel our human instinct into a force for good

Tribalism is a complex and ancient evolutionary force that has given us the capacity for co-operation and competition, but in our modern world, it has become a curse. Our Tribal Future explores a central paradox of our species: how altruism, community, kindness, and genocide are all driven by the same core adaptation. Evolutionary anthropologist David R. Samson engages with cutting-edge science and philosophy to explain the science, ethics, and history of tribalism in compelling and accessible terms. He reveals that tribalism cannot and should not be eliminated entirely, but it is possible to channel the best of this instinct to enrich our lives while containing the worst of its dangers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2023
Publisher: Footnote Press Ltd

What do you think of when you hear the word tribalism? For many, it conjures images of bigotry, xenophobia, and sectarian violence. Others may envision their own tribe: family, friends, and the bonds of loyalty that keep them together. Tribalism is one of the most complex and ancient evolutionary forces; it gave us the capacity for cooperation and competition, and allowed us to navigate increasingly complex social landscapes. It is so powerful that it is a better predictor of our behavior than race, class, gender, or religion. But in our vast modern world, has this blessing become a curse?

Our Tribal Future explores a central paradox of our species: how altruism, community, kindness, and genocide are all driven by the same core adaptation. Evolutionary anthropologist David R. Samson engages with cutting-edge science and philosophy, as well as his own field research with small-scale societies and wild chimpanzees, to explain the science, ethics, and history of tribalism in compelling and accessible terms. This bold and brilliant book reveals provocative truths about our nature. Readers will discover that tribalism cannot, and should not, be eliminated entirely - to do so would be to destroy what makes us human. But is it possible to channel the best of this instinct to enrich our lives while containing the worst of its dangers?

Weight: 654g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804440735