Social Conquest of Earth
* Book: The Social Conquest of Earth. E.O. Wilson. 2012.
URL =
Contextual Quote
"The human condition is an unstable mix of altruism and selfishness, of virtues and sin. Even among the most altruistic, competitiveness cannot be restrained."
- E.O. Wilson (The Social Conquest of Earth, 2012)
Discussion
Will Ruddick and Aude Peronne:
" Wilson’s late works, particularly The Social Conquest of Earth (2012), offer a blueprint for proto-social structures — foundational frameworks for resource sharing, mutual support, and societal resilience — that are both ancient and urgently relevant today.
Wilson taught us that both cooperation and competition are inseparable forces shaping complex societies. Cooperation enables group formation, resource sharing, protection, and collective knowledge transfer, laying the groundwork for proto-social structures. Yet within these groups, competition is equally vital, fostering innovation, excellence, and individual contributions. This synergy of unity and individuality, Wilson argued, is at the core of human social evolution."
(https://willruddick.substack.com/p/insights-from-eo-wilsons-legacy)