Robert Wright
Robert Wright is an American author, journalist, and scholar of evolutionary psychology and religion. His books—including The Moral Animal, Nonzero, and Why Buddhism Is True—explore the intersections of science, morality, and spirituality. In The Moral Animal, Wright applies evolutionary theory to human behavior and ethics, offering insight into the biological roots of our social lives. A visiting lecturer at Princeton and a contributor to major publications, Wright is known for his ability to distill complex scientific ideas into accessible, thought-provoking narratives. His work challenges readers to examine the evolutionary logic behind emotions, morality, and belief systems.
In The Moral Animal, Robert Wright applies evolutionary psychology to human behavior, relationships, and ethics. Drawing on Darwinian theory, he explains how natural selection has shaped not just our bodies but also our minds—our moral instincts, mating preferences, and social behaviors. The book investigates how selfish genes can produce selfless actions and how our evolutionary history influences love, jealousy, parenting, and morality. Wright uses Charles Darwin’s life as a case study, linking theory with biography. Thought-provoking and accessible, it challenges assumptions about free will, altruism, and the roots of human nature.