'It's the animal in us', we often hear when we've been bad. But why not when we're good? "Primates and Philosophers" tackles this question by exploring the biological foundations of one of humanity's most valued traits: morality. In this provocative book, primatologist Frans de Waal argues that modern-day evolutionary biology takes far too dim a view of the natural world, emphasizing our 'selfish' genes. Science has thus exacerbated our reciprocal habits of blaming nature when we act badly and labeling the good things we do as 'humane'. Seeking the origin of human morality not in evolution but in human culture, science insists that we are moral by choice, not by nature. Citing remarkable evidence based on his extensive research of primate behavior, de Waal attacks 'Veneer Theory', which posits morality as a thin overlay on an otherwise nasty nature. He explains how we evolved from a long line of animals that care for the weak and build cooperation with reciprocal transactions. Drawing on both Darwin and recent scientific advances, de Waal demonstrates a strong continuity between human and animal behavior. In the process, he also probes issues such as anthropomorphism and human responsibilities toward animals. Based on the Tanner Lectures de Waal delivered at Princeton University's Center for Human Values in 2004, "Primates and Philosophers" includes responses by the philosophers Peter Singer, Christine M. Korsgaard, and Philip Kitcher and the science writer Robert Wright. They press de Waal to clarify the differences between humans and other animals, yielding a lively debate that will fascinate all those who wonder about the origins and reach of human goodness.

弗朗斯·德瓦爾是荷蘭著名的心理學傢、動物學傢和生態學傢，美國艾默裏大學靈長類動物行為學教授。

1993年，他當選為荷蘭皇傢藝術與科學院院士，之後，又相繼人選美國國傢科學院院士及美國藝術與科學院院士。2007年他被美國《時代》周刊選為當今世界具有巨大影響的百位世界文化名人，以及目前在世的全球最偉大的十幾個科學傢之一。他的主要著作還有：《類人猿與壽司大師》、《靈長類動物如何謀求和平》以及《人類的猿性》等。