In this major work, Mary Midgley, one of our foremost intellectuals argues that humans are rather more like animals than we have previously allowed ourselves to believe. 'This is a very important book ... Midgley has provided an urgently needed bridge between science and philosophy.' - Iris Murdoch'A brilliant and persuasive attempt to set us in our animal context, to show us to ourselves as at home in the world, and to indicate a morality for society without religious absolutes - a morality of which we see the rudiments in our brother species.' - The Observer'A wonderful breath of fresh air and a book for non-philosophers as much as for philosophers.' - Mary Warnock