The Social Contract

An amazing book full of thoughts about the functioning/malfumctioning of societies. Great insights showing how the study of animal behavior gives us clues as to why we baheave in certain ways. Very easy and interesting reading, well researched information.

I was curious to see if anyone had read and reviewed "The Social Contract". I began reading Ardrey, Konrad Lorentz, Anthony Storr, and others in the late 60s. My background is physics so I had no preconceived notions that would cause me to reject outright the ideas expressed in the book. The Social Contract was published in 1970 and is one of the most thought-provoking and influential books that I have read. Among other things, Ardrey accurately predicts and explains our defeat in Viet Nam, and explains why housing projects are failures. This book provides a foundation for understanding what we do and why we do it; both the positive and the negative, based upon inherited traits that are common to all social animals. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an open mind who likes to think.

using examples of social behavior among diferent types of animals ardrey posits that the human animal is no different in the trade offs he makes in his community to ensure the survival of himself and the species, and that much relig, philos teaching is counter to man's basic God given instincts. E.g.ardrey maintains that animal mothers will kill intruders, or even excess offspring who threaten her ability to ensure the survival of all her off spring. This is the natural law and opposition to prenatal or post natal population control is contrary to natural law. The book contains many other thought provoking facts, such as that when a community of animals see that they are becoming too numerous for the resources to survive, they will begin dying of stress related illness, or like the lemmings be driven by stress to run into the sea. a well researched and persuaive book by the author of AFRICAN GENESIS and THE TERRITORIAL IMPERATIVE."... excitingly argumentative...bound to provoke and stimulate..." (WALL STREET JOURNAL)"Every chapter is worth careful thought and consideration, every paragraph expresses the fluency of this playwright turned philosopher"(SEATTLE DAILY TIMES)