What is the relationship between human behavior and our biological heritage? Mary Midgley examines the philosophical and scientific roots of human nature, arguing against the notion that humans are blank slates or entirely detached from the animal kingdom. She utilizes a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on ethology, evolutionary biology, and moral philosophy to demonstrate that human instincts and social structures are deeply intertwined with our evolutionary past.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text in the philosophy of biology and ethics. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose despite the complex interdisciplinary subject matter, often citing it as a vital counterpoint to reductionist views of human nature.