This collection of essays is eclectic, covering certain political, ethical, cultural, and philosophical topics.But running through all the material is the evolutionary-naturalistic perspective stated in the opening essay, which gives the book its title.Another emphatic feature is a focus on the Western cultural outlook, as the context in which the large number of topics is viewed.This focus is important as a way of re-affirming the distinctive character of Western intellectual and cultural history, at a time when that character is, arguably, not sufficiently recognised and appreciated.Authors referred to include Aristotle, Shakespeare, Voltaire, and Sartre.
