Most of our social nature is like that of other primates - we're mostly out for ourselves.

What set us apart from most or all of the other hominid species was our ultrasociality, our ability to be highly cooperative, even with strangers, people who are not at all related to us.

I got interested in the American culture war back in 2004, and it's one of the only growth stocks I've ever invested in.

Morality binds people into groups. It gives us tribalism, it gives us genocide, war, and politics. But it also gives us heroism, altruism, and sainthood.

Congress is full of good, decent, smart people who have devoted their lives to public service.

In real life, however, you don't react to what someone did; you react only to what you think she did, and the gap between action and perception is bridged by the art of impression management. If life itself is but what you deem it, then why not focus your efforts on persuading others to believe that you are a virtuous and trustworthy cooperator?

Most of our social nature is like that of other primates - we're mostly out for ourselves.