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Synopsis
Explores the relationships among genetics, human behavior, and culture and argues that evil is a by-product of nature's strategies for creation.
From the Publisher
Covering the entire span of the Earth's as well as mankind's history, this ambitious and revolutionary book explores the intricate relationship between evolution, emotion, genes, and culture to put forth the thesis that "evil" is a by-product of nature's strategies for creation. The Lucifer Principle probes depression and elation, idealism and greed, revealing the surprising ways in which evolution has implanted her tactics in our bodies, minds, and in our mass psychology.
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First Sentence
In 1580, Michel de Montaigne, inspired by the discovery of New World tribes untouched by Europe's latest complexities, initiated the idea of the "noble savage " Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In 1580, Michel de Montaigne, inspired by the discovery of New World tribes untouched by Europe's latest complexities, initiated the idea of the "noble savage " Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can't think of a great many books that have truly changed the way I view and think about the world (Culture Jam by Kalle Lasn being the only other one that springs to mind right now), but this is certainly one of them. In it, Bloom theorises that we all compose the individual components of national social superorganisms, and uses historic examples and scientific evidence to show how these superorganisms are knitted together by a combination of in-built, animalistic, biological urges and the influence of over-riding, virulent ideologies (or 'memes'). He goes on to explain how and why Mother Nature pits us against ourselves and forces us to abide by a 'pecking order', and what happens to those on the various strata. But, he postulates, just as the human body kills over 200 billion red blood cells per day in order to live and progress, so violence, war and evil has been built into each of us as a means by which the indivudual superorganisms can shed the components that no longer serve a purpose within it, so that it may evolve and live better in the future. Bloom ends the book on a positive note by theorising that (though it often seems otherwise) we are today as a race, through the sacrifices of the past, moving closer together and progressing towards a place in which the human race will come together as one superorganism. He also stresses that, if we are to survive as a species, we must learn to overcome, circumnavigate, or maybe 'cure' the animalistic part of our brain that drives us towards violence against one another.
That said, the above explanation really doesn't do the book justice; there is much more to it than that which I've attempted to lay out above, and I found the whole thing to be a completely fascinating read. It is written in a frank, easy-to-understand style, and the frequent historical and scientific references really help you to understand and contextualize the ideas that Bloom is trying to get across.
I would thoroughly recommend the book to anyone who thinks that, from what they've heard about it, they might be even remotely interested in it.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
12 years in the making this book thoroughly and authoritatively examines human nature from a number of perspectives and fuses them with history, psychology and behaviour, providing insight into the very mechanisms that drive humans to exhibit such brutal yet constructive behaviours throughout history upto the present. Bloom cleverly illustrates that the fundamental concepts of the superorganism, ideas and the pecking order which constitute his 'lucifer principle' dynamically interact to produce the contrasting extremes of violent and creative behaviours of humans which have characterised our bloody rise to civilisation.
A book that at moments makes you resent mother nature for imbuing us with such a necessary capacity for destruction, Bloom finally delivers with an optimistic outlook for the future of the human race.
A book that at moments makes you resent mother nature for imbuing us with such a necessary capacity for destruction, Bloom finally delivers with an optimistic outlook for the future of the human race.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Don't let the weird title "The Lucifer Principle" put you off. This book is full of fascinating facts, covering many eras of human history, anthropology and (even more fascinatingly) animal behaviour, that shed light on human characteristics. The notes section alone covers 70 pages, in small print, and is full of jumping-off points for further reading.
The basic principle is that human instincts to anger, violence, depression, sabotage, etc - the instincts which some religions try to explain as being due to a devil or a Fall of Man, and which some modern philosophies try to blame on capitalism or western imperialism (etc) - arise much deeper in the workings of nature. These hugely destructive instincts are present because they propel progress - allowing individuals or groups to rise higher up the pecking order in whatever society they exist.
The book has a strong emphasis on looking at groups, rather than just individuals, as the basis for selection and survival. Another word for this in the book is "superorganism". Individual behaviours that initially seem baffling - eg a tendency to suicide - suddenly make more sense from the group point of view. Within human socieity, groups are organised by memes, with religion being one of the key examples.
Because of the astonishing scope of the book, it's easy to nit-pick here and there. But weighing everything up, it's hard to deny the main claims of this book - the evidence it gathers is so extensive and persuasively argued. Anyone who still hankers any illusion about "Gentle Mother Nature" or "Nature Knows Best" should read this book. Likewise for anyone who takes a benign view on religious influence. It's up to us who read it and understand it to take the steps to prise mankind out of our deeply embedded but flawed natural characteristics. There are some hints in the final chapters about how this could happen, but that's the weakest part of the book.
The basic principle is that human instincts to anger, violence, depression, sabotage, etc - the instincts which some religions try to explain as being due to a devil or a Fall of Man, and which some modern philosophies try to blame on capitalism or western imperialism (etc) - arise much deeper in the workings of nature. These hugely destructive instincts are present because they propel progress - allowing individuals or groups to rise higher up the pecking order in whatever society they exist.
The book has a strong emphasis on looking at groups, rather than just individuals, as the basis for selection and survival. Another word for this in the book is "superorganism". Individual behaviours that initially seem baffling - eg a tendency to suicide - suddenly make more sense from the group point of view. Within human socieity, groups are organised by memes, with religion being one of the key examples.
Because of the astonishing scope of the book, it's easy to nit-pick here and there. But weighing everything up, it's hard to deny the main claims of this book - the evidence it gathers is so extensive and persuasively argued. Anyone who still hankers any illusion about "Gentle Mother Nature" or "Nature Knows Best" should read this book. Likewise for anyone who takes a benign view on religious influence. It's up to us who read it and understand it to take the steps to prise mankind out of our deeply embedded but flawed natural characteristics. There are some hints in the final chapters about how this could happen, but that's the weakest part of the book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not as critical as i hoped but a great read
This book promises to be a groundbreaking exploration into gestalts and the nature of the 'superorganism'. Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2007 by Oliver Wood
Into the Future
A great deal of meticulous research has gone into writing this book ( about 1/5th of the total number of pages is bibliography and notes! ). Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2005 by "drshahbaznoor"
Get ready to have many assumptions challenged
Approach this book with an open mind and you will find that the filters you view the world through will have changed shape once you have completed it.
Next to Illuminatus! Read more
Published on 7 May 2004 by JamesG01
Very heavy reading for very intellegent minds.
This books describes why we humans do what we do, where as humans we are headed and why.
A great book by a genius mind. Worth every penny. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2003
Absolutely brilliant, Bloom changed the way i view the world
i am only writing this because nobody else had done one, and if there is a book more deserving of 5 stars i have not read it. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2002
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