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Table of Contents
- Epigraph
- Introduction
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I. The Basics
- 1. We are part of nature
- 2. We are complex beasts
- 3. We strive to balance competing concerns
- 4. Each human life is a journey
- 5. We seek unity
- 6. We experience resource scarcity
- 7. We live in cooperative groups
- 8. We each manage four interrelated realms
- 9. We favor individuation
- 10. We observe the world around us
- 11. We communicate via sophisticated languages
- 12. We make things for one another
- 13. We require periods of leisure
- 14. We can choose to help or hurt one another
- 15. We forge identities that provide meaning
- 16. We are fallible
- 17. Specific trust is built between individuals
- II. Focused Attention
- III. Shared culture
- IV. The Restless Animal
- V. The Most Adaptive Species
- VI. Shared Values
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VII. A Web of Interconnections
- 44. Each group fulfills a purpose
- 45. Groups define roles for their members
- 46. Roles often provide for specialization
- 47. Groups are often nested
- 48. Groups use a variety of social structures
- 49. Family is the foundational paradigm
- 50. Friends and colleagues expand the circle
- 51. Tribes organize even larger groups
- 52. Written culture allow groups to expand
- 53. Experts form peer groups
- 54. Multicultural societies include diverse subgroups
- 55. Groups pool their resources
- 56. Large groups require governance
- 57. We form preferences for particular structures
- 58. We generally trust fellow group members
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VIII. At Our Best…
- 59. We juggle groups and structures
- 60. We build and maintain civilizations
- 61. We cultivate empathy
- 62. We feel a sense of shared humanity
- 63. We do not demand perfection
- 64. We recognize the need for balance
- 65. We think and care big picture and long-term
- 66. We practice and expect fair play
- 67. We use critical thinking to tackle hard problems
- 68. We make art to communicate with others
- 69. We provide education
- 70. We recognize religions as human constructs
- 71. First and last, there is wonder
- IX. Missives
- Back Matter
Next: Epigraph