Overview

This book offers a timely exploration of how Western theatre has consistently challenged the notion that human nature is fundamentally selfish. Through millennia of dramatic works, the theatre has served as a vital platform for examining the complex interplay between selfish and selfless behavior, contributing to a debate that remains at the heart of contemporary culture wars. While traditional philosophical and scientific thought, particularly social-Darwinist theory, has emphasized selfishness as key to survival, recent developments have begun to question this paradigm. The theatre has long suggested a more nuanced perspective, proposing that selflessness and altruism are not merely idealistic concepts but essential components of human survival and flourishing. This groundbreaking work demonstrates how Western dramatic literature makes a compelling case for recognizing the evolutionary advantages of selflessness while challenging our culture's misguided celebration of individualism. Written for a diverse audience of college students, theatregoers, and scholars, the book illuminates the fascinating intersection of science and art in questioning our dominant cultural assumptions about human nature and virtue. In an era where the consequences of unbridled individualism are increasingly apparent, this examination of theatre's insights into human behavior offers both timely wisdom and hope for a more altruistic future.

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9781041071969

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Author Information

William W. Demastes is Professor of English at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.

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