Human nature Quote by Christopher Ryan
““Is it Rousseauian fantasy to assert that prehistory was not an unending nightmare? That human nature leans no more toward violence, selfishness, and exploitation than toward peace, generosity, and cooperation? That most of our ancient ancestors probably experienced a sense of communal belonging few of us can imagine today? That human sexuality probably evolved and functioned as a social bonding device and a pleasurable way to avoid and neutralize conflict?””
About This Quote
Source Book: Sex at Dawn, 2010
Posits that early humans were cooperative, peaceful, and sexually open, challenging the view of innate aggression.
In simple terms: Early humans may have been cooperative and peaceful.
Key Takeaway
Consider the role of social bonding in evolution.
Themes
evolution
social behavior
peace
cooperation
Mood
thought‑provoking
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- anthropology
- social policy
- relationship counseling
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
anthropology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How might this view affect modern social policies?
- What evidence supports cooperative prehistory?
A Different Perspective
Evidence is debated; modern behavior is complex.
![“[Man] has imagined a heaven, and has left entirely out of it the supremest of all his delights, the one ecstasy that stands first and foremost in the heart of every individual of his race…sexual intercourse! It is as if a lost and perishing person in a roasting desert should be told by a rescuer…” quote by Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/939/christopher-ryan-4309_joy_man-has-imagined-a-heaven-and-has-left-e_187069.jpg)
