Why We Should Be More Optimistic About Human Nature

A new book argues that humans are more cooperative and trustworthy than we think, and social institutions need to reflect that

Looking at the world with good expectations of people isn't naive, it's rational and realistic. Yuricazac/Shutterstock

In the novel “Lord of the Flies,” a group of young boys are shipwrecked on an island and eventually turn savagely against each other. The book is a cautionary tale about humanity’s underlying cruelty and the need for civilization to tame our darker impulses—a message that resonates with many people today.

But that’s not what happened to a real-life group of shipwrecked kids in 1965. Unlike the fictional “Lord of the Flies” characters, they developed a game plan for survival that was cooperative, fun, and peaceful, resulting in lifelong friendships.