Human Traits and their Social Significance

"Human Traits and their Social Significance" by Irwin Edman is a scholarly exploration of how our built-in human tendencies affect the world we live in. Written as a guide, likely for a course at Columbia University, the book peers into the basic parts of human nature, such as instincts, emotions, and learned actions, focusing on the role these play in how we connect with others and build our communities. The book starts by laying out the groundwork, discussing how human traits have changed over time, from simple instincts to the learned behaviors necessary for a stable society. It stresses the huge range of instincts we have, our special skill for talking to each other through language, and how important it is to form good habits for both learning and keeping society in order. The author makes it clear that getting a grip on these traits is super important for dealing with today's tough social problems, setting the scene for a closer look at behavior and how society is set up.