Contents

1. Cover
2. Title Page
3. Welcome
4. Dedication
5. Epigraph
6. Introduction
7. I
   What Is Altruism?
   1. 1. The Nature of Altruism
   2. 2. Extending Altruism
   3. 3. What Is Empathy?
   4. 4. From Empathy to Compassion in a Neuroscience Laboratory
   5. 5. Love, Supreme Emotion
   6. 6. The Accomplishment of a Twofold Benefit, Our Own and Others’
   7. 7. Self-Interested Altruism and Generalized Reciprocity
   8. 8. Selfless Altruism
   9. 9. The Banality of Good
   10. 10. Altruistic Heroism
   11. 11. Unconditional Altruism
   12. 12. Beyond Imitations, True Altruism: An Experimental Investigation
   13. 13. The Philosophical Arguments Against Universal Selfishness
8. II
   The Emergence of Altruism
   1. 14. Altruism in Theories of Evolution
   2. 15. Maternal Love, Foundation for Extended Altruism?
   3. 16. The Evolution of Cultures
   4. 17. Altruistic Behavior Among Animals
   5. 18. Altruism Among Children
   6. 19. Prosocial Behavior
9. III
   Cultivating Altruism
   1. 20. Can We Change?
   2. 21. Training the Mind: What the Cognitive Sciences Have to Say
   3. 22. How to Cultivate Altruism: Meditations on Altruistic Love, Compassion, Joy, and Impartiality
10. IV
    Contrary Forces
    1. 23. Egocentrism and Crystallization of the Ego
    2. 24. The Spread of Individualism and Narcissism
    3. 25. The Champions of Selfishness
    4. 26. Having Hatred or Compassion for Yourself
    5. 27. The Shortfall of Empathy
    6. 28. At the Origin of Violence: Devaluing the Other
    7. 29. The Natural Repugnance to Kill
    8. 30. Dehumanizing the Other: Massacres and Genocides
    9. 31. Has War Always Existed?
    10. 32. The Decline of Violence
    11. 33. The Instrumentalization of Animals: A Moral Aberration
    12. 34. Backfire: Effects of the Meat Industry on Poverty, Environment, and Health
    13. 35. Institutionalized Selfishness
11. V
    Building a More Altruistic Society
    1. 36. The Virtues of Cooperation
    2. 37. An Enlightened Education
    3. 38. Fighting Inequality
    4. 39. Toward a Caring Economy
    5. 40. Voluntary, Joyous Simplicity
    6. 41. Altruism for the Sake of Future Generations
    7. 42. Sustainable Harmony
    8. 43. Local Commitment, Global Responsibility
    9. Conclusion: Daring Altruism
12. Acknowledgments
13. Karuna-Shechen: Altruism in Action
14. About the Author
15. Also by Matthieu Ricard
16. Sources for Figures
17. Select Bibliography
18. Notes
19. Newsletters
20. Copyright