Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution

Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution

by Peter Kropotkin

Narrated by LibriVox Community

 — 9 hours, 28 minutes

Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution

Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution

by Peter Kropotkin

Narrated by LibriVox Community

 — 9 hours, 28 minutes

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Overview

Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution is a book by Peter Kropotkin on the subject of mutual aid, written while he was living in exile in England. It was first published by William Heinemann in London in October 1902. The individual chapters had originally been published in 1890-96 as a series of essays in the British monthly literary magazine, Nineteenth Century. Written partly in response to Social Darwinism and in particular to Thomas H. Huxley's Nineteenth Century essay, "The Struggle for Existence," Kropotkin's book drew on his experiences in scientific expeditions in Siberia to illustrate the phenomenon of cooperation. After examining the evidence of cooperation in nonhuman animals, "savages," "barbarians," in medieval cities, and in modern times, he concludes that cooperation and mutual aid are as important in the evolution of the species as competition and mutual strife, if not more so. (Summary by Wikipedia)


Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Kropotkin was far ahead of his time. He rejected both authoritarian communism and the iron cage of capitalism. He believed in the power of the individual, but equally that we can't survive without each other."-Rutger Bregman, Utopia for Realists and Humankind

"Russian social theorist Peter Kropotkin ... argued that voluntary cooperation has been key to the flourishing of human civilization."-The New York Times

"Kropotkin's ideas on mutual aid played a prominent, critical role in the study of behavior and evolution."-Scientific American

"Make no mistake: the story that started with Pyotr Alexeyevich Kropotkin is far from finished. On the contrary, I believe there's a good chance that it's only just begun."-Rutger Bregman, Utopia for Realists and Humankind

"Today, anthropologists, political scientists, economists and psychologists publish hundreds of studies each year on human cooperation, and researchers in these fields are just beginning to realize that so many of the topics they are investigating were first suggested and promulgated by Peter Kropotkin."-Lee Alan Dugatkin, Scientific American

"The book is undeniably readable throughout. The author has a creed which he preaches with all the fervour of genuine conviction. He is anxious to make converts, but his zeal never leads him to forget fairness and courtesy. Those who disagree with him may learn much by studying the book."-Nature

"Literally hundreds of papers come out each year on animal cooperation - many in preeminent journals such as Nature and Science - and so many of these papers show Kropotkin to be a prophet."-Scientific American

Product Details

BN ID: 2940170367382
Publisher: LibriVox
Publication date: 08/25/2014
Sales rank: 838,623
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