August 10, 2001

Evolution Alone Does Not Explain Altruism or Its Evil Twin, Racism

To the Editor:

David P. Barash's "The Ugly Underside of Altruism" (The Review, June 29) shows how evolutionary psychology has recently become more sophisticated. While Barash is more careful than most, his article reflects the theoretical and practical problems with evolutionary psychology.

To begin with the practical problems, Barash's claim that "[r]acism is in no way rendered acceptable just because it may be, to some extent, 'natural'" is disingenuous at best. ... The

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