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Frans de Waal.
The Bonobo and the Atheist: in search of humanism among the primates.
Norton. 2013

rating : 3 : worth reading
review : 10 March 2018

In The Bonobo and the Atheist, Frans de Waal explores for the first time the implications of his work with primates for our understanding of modem religion. He delivers fascinating evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate societies that further cements the case for the biological origins of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up explanation of morality that emphasizes our unique connection with animals.

Some extremist religious people claim it is impossible to be “good without God”: we are all steeped in original sin, and fear of God’s wrath is the only thing stopping people from murdering each other. Frankly, I don’t know whether to assume they don’t really believe this, or whether to avoid them in case they suffer a crisis of faith and go on a rampage.

de Waal demonstrates a rather more sensible source of our morality: it evolved. To bolster his argument, he provides many examples from the behaviours of chimps and bonobos. These apes have different kinds of social structures, one rather more violent than the other, but both exhibit what can easily be interpreted as moral behaviours, including a desire for fairness, respect for each others’ possessions, and altruism.

de Waal’s observations build up a strong picture of a proto-moral society, with the chimps and bonobos exhibiting a wide range of bottom up moral behaviours, and resorting to some top-down “policing” on the relatively few occasions when individual behaviour is wanting. The multiple descriptions draw a picture of a complex society of caring individual apes, plus the odd grouch.

In summary, we are moral because we evolved as social apes, and the kind of morality we have evolved lets us live together in relative harmony. We too need policing, but only for the outliers, not for everyday behaviours. So no need to worry about atheistic murderous rampages. Or no more than religious ones, anyway.

Frans de Waal.
Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?.
Granta. 2016

What separates your mind from an animal’s? Maybe you think it’s your ability to design tools, your sense of self or your grasp of post and future – all traits that have helped us define ourselves as the planet’s preeminent species. But in recent decades, these claims have been eroded by a revolution in the study of animal cognition. Drawing on extensive studies of a wide range of animals, world-renowned primatologist Frans de Waal demonstrates that we have grossly underestimated both the scope and depth of animal intelligence.

Frans de Waal.
Mama's Last Hug: animal emotions and what they teach us about ourselves.
Granta. 2019

You probably think you’re different from animals. Yet you don't have a single organ that other animals don't also have, and according to noted primatologist Frans de Waal, that’s also true of emotions. This radical proposal, positing a shared, complex emotional framework observable across species, is at the heart of de Waal’s groundbreaking book, which draws on decades spent studying the social and emotional lives of animals. With a wealth of new findings and personal encounters with chimps, bonobos and many other species, Mama’s Last Hug will open your eyes to what it means to be a human animal.