The Early Evolutionary Imagination: Literature and Human Nature

Darwinian evolution is an unsolved imaginative problem that has influenced literature since the Origin of Species in 1859, sparking fairy tales, adventure stories, political allegories, utopias, dystopias, social realist novels, and existential meditations. This book argues for the adaptive function of storytelling and calls for literary scholars to reframe their interpretation of the first authors who responded to Darwin.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Darwinian evolution presents an intriguing and complex problem that has been passed down to us, yet remains unsolved. While it serves as our most powerful explanation of humanity's place in nature, it also demands a higher cognitive effort and offers less emotional fulfillment compared to traditional myths. Since the publication of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859, evolution has sparked a remarkable surge in storytelling, giving rise to a wide array of genres such as fairy tales, adventure stories, political allegories, utopias, dystopias, social realist novels, and existential meditations. While the impact of evolution on literature has been extensively studied, its psychological underpinnings have yet to be fully explored.

In this book, we argue for the adaptive function of storytelling and propose a comprehensive integration of traditional humanist scholarship with current knowledge about the evolved and adapted human mind. We urge literary scholars to reexamine their interpretation of the early authors who responded to Darwin's ideas, recognizing the profound psychological insights and adaptations that their works embody.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, we explore how storytelling serves as a tool for survival, social bonding, and cultural transmission. We examine the cognitive mechanisms that drive our fascination with evolutionary narratives and the emotional responses they elicit. By understanding the evolutionary origins of storytelling, we gain a deeper appreciation of its role in shaping our understanding of the world and our place within it.

Furthermore, we argue that storytelling can be a powerful means of promoting empathy, compassion, and understanding across different cultures and societies. By sharing stories that highlight our shared evolutionary heritage and the challenges we face as a species, we can cultivate a sense of unity and shared purpose.

In conclusion, Darwinian evolution presents us with an imaginative problem that continues to captivate our minds. While it offers a profound understanding of humanity's place in nature, it also demands a higher cognitive effort and provides less emotional fulfillment than traditional myths. By integrating traditional humanist scholarship with current knowledge about the evolved and adapted human mind, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the adaptive function of storytelling and its potential to promote empathy, compassion, and understanding across different cultures and societies.

Weight: 534g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030827373
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021