Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies

<p>This book offers a timely exploration of how Western theatre has consistently challenged the notion that human nature is fundamentally selfish.</p><p>Through millennia of dramatic works, the theatre has served as a vital platform for examining the complex interplay between selfish and selfless behavior, contributing to a debate that remains at the heart of contemporary culture wars. While traditional philosophical and scientific thought, particularly social-Darwinist theory, has emphasized selfishness as key to survival, recent developments have begun to question this paradigm. The theatre has long suggested a more nuanced perspective, proposing that selflessness and altruism are not merely idealistic concepts but essential components of human survival and flourishing. This groundbreaking work demonstrates how Western dramatic literature makes a compelling case for recognizing the evolutionary advantages of selflessness while challenging our culture''s misguided celebration of individualism. Written for a diverse audience of college students, theatregoers, and scholars, the book illuminates the fascinating intersection of science and art in questioning our dominant cultural assumptions about human nature and virtue.</p><p>In an era where the consequences of unbridled individualism are increasingly apparent, this examination of theatre''s insights into human behavior offers both timely wisdom and hope for a more altruistic future.</p>