The Fair Society: The Science of Human Nature and the Pursuit of Social Justice

by Peter A. Corning

We’ve been told, again and again, that life is unfair. But what if we’re wrong simply to resign ourselves to this situation? What if we have the power—and more, the duty—to change society for the better?

We do. And our very nature inclines us to do so. That’s the provocative argument Peter Corning makes in The Fair Society. Drawing on the evidence from our evolutionary history and the emergent science of human nature, Corning shows that we have an innate sense of fairness. While these impulses can easily be subverted by greed and demagoguery, they can also be harnessed for good. Corning brings together the latest findings from the behavioral and biological sciences to help us understand how to move beyond the Madoffs and Enrons in our midst in order to lay the foundation for a new social contract—a Biosocial Contract built on a deep understanding of human nature and a commitment to fairness. He then proposes a sweeping set of economic and political reforms based on three principles of fairness—equality, equity, and reciprocity—that together could transform our society and our world.

At this crisis point for capitalism, Corning reveals that the proper response to bank bailouts and financial chicanery isn’t to get mad—it’s to get fair.

Genres: Economics, Philosophy, Science, Politics, Nonfiction, Social Justice, Psychology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 15, 2011

About the author

Peter Andrew Corning (born 1935) is an American biologist, consultant, and complex systems scientist, and Director of the Institute for the Study of Complex Systems, in Friday Harbor, Washington, and is known especially for his work on the causal role of synergy in evolution.

Reviews

[Curtis Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book lays out the argument that Humans are a cooperative, reciprocal species with an innate sense of fairness. He then uses this to argue that both socialism and capitalism is flawed. He then argues in favor of what he calls Biosocialism. In my view Biosocialism is just supped up Social Democracy/Soft Socialism with the only difference is he frames full employment, living wages, and a welfare state from an evolutionary view, describing society as a "Survival Enterprise" with continuing the Human species as the prime directive. Overall the book is good. It is better read for its information on human nature and its implications for policy than the policy itself, which is a mix of left-wing and centrist ideas. Overall I agreed with most of what he said and would place this book under my personal term of Soft Socialism (My grouping of ideologies which could be described as socialistic but are compatible with private property and markets).

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Which is better? Capitalism? Socialism? Neither, says Peter Corning. Bringing to bear evidence from multiple disciplines--economics, political science, anthropology, biology, among others--he argues that neither of those perspectives provides the basis for his goal, a "fair society." He explores evolutionary theory, for instance, to point out that cooperation, a sense of fairness, even altruism can be consistent with human nature, as shaped by evolution (in interaction with culture).

This is a thought-provoking work that will irritate some. But it does get the reader thinking about issues, and that is an important contribution indeed.

[Sidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first two chapters are easy to start. Author explain the fairness in another category, which is appealing to go deep from biology, sociology to politics. from chapter three, where i am in now, is a little hard to get absorb everything he writes.

anyway, another required reading book from Prof. Javis in my intro class.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great scientific analysis of what we might become, if only we were willing!