I call the notion that we are nothing but killer apes the Beethoven fallacy. Beethoven was disorganized and messy, and yet his music is the epitome of order.

If you are a cooperative animal you need to watch what you get. If you, or even a whole community, invest in something but then a few individuals receive a much larger return, it's not a good arrangement. If it happens consistently, it's time to look for an arrangement that is more beneficial. That's why we're so sensitive to how rewards are being divided.

I'm personally a nonbeliever, so I'm struggling with if we really need religion.

The chimpanzees could tear me apart in no time. They're many times stronger than we are.

The thinking is that we started evolving language not by speaking but by gesturing.

Studies of reconciliation in primates have demonstrated that if the relationship value increases between two parties they are more willing to make peace.

Future benefits rarely figure in the minds of animals.