A Study Of Wilson's Theory Of Human Nature

Edward O.Wilson is a famous American naturalist who constructed Sociobiology in thel960s.This paper is a study for his biological theory of human nature.From the perspective of sociobiology,Wilson claimed human nature on the basis of biology and then formed his biological theory of human nature,which can be traced back to Darwin in his "The Descent of Man"-to describe and illustrate the origin of human nature,especially moral consciousness,based on the theory of evolution by natural selection.Represented by Darwin, the classical biological theory of human nature holds that, human nature is a product of evolution,while natural selection is the fundamental mechanism of humanistic evolution,and scientific methods shall be used to study human nature.As an heir of this theory,Wilson held a different understanding to the unit of natural selection.He considered that the unit of natural selection is neither an individual nor a group,but a gene.And this is the basic difference between Wilson' s biological theory of human nature and the classical biological theory of human nature represented by Darwin.Wilson took a rather special way to study human nature.He believed that human nature was not only a subject of humanities but also natural science research.Therefore,human nature study shall combine the two.Besides,he protested a method of combining reduction with integration,and nature with nurture to study human nature.Wilson attributed the human nature to the biological nature. The biological determined the social.Human nature involved three elements:gene,mentality,and social behavior (aggression,sex,altruism and religion).Gene determined mentality and social behavior;social behavior was the external manifestation of gene.Determined by gene,human nature has characteristic of hereditary,selfishness and complexity.Determined by genes,human beings were fatalistic without free will.In addition,human culture was also determined by gene and cultural should only evolve within the limits of genetic evolution.Later,Wilson put forward his "Co-evolution Theory of Gene and Culture",which enhanced cultural autonomy.Still and all,he emphasized that gene should be the dominant element.With strong genetic color,Wilson' s theory of human nature came out to be criticized by all social circles.In fact,the positive significance of Wilson's biological theory of human nature can not be ignored:It advanced the research paradigm of biological human nature,started comprehensive theory movement and,harmonized the relationship between human being and nature.This paper is trying to make some personal remarks while illuminate Wilson's biological theory of human nature.