Western Drama Confronts Selfish Humanity: Dramatic Altruisms (1) (Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies)

By:

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis
This book offers a timely exploration of how Western theatre has consistently challenged the notion that human nature is fundamentally selfish.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.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.
Copyright:
2026

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
Book Size:
212 Pages
ISBN-13:
9781040444177
Related ISBNs:
9781003639299, 9781041071969, 9781040444146
Publisher:
Taylor & Francis
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
William W. Demastes
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Art and Architecture, Literature and Fiction, Drama, Plays and Theater, Philosophy
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

Reviews

No Rating Yet