What is evil? Where does it come from? Lyall Watson poses these ambitious questions in Dark Nature (Hodder & Stoughton, 拢16.99, ISBN 034 061 7887 X). In a polished and persuasive style, his answer is that evil is anything but supernatural. Instead, he believes it is organic, commonplace and universal. Watson suggests that the roots of evil are biological 鈥� a gene will do whatever it takes to survive, even if it means killing 鈥渙ne of its own鈥�. Nature abounds with examples of fratricide, infanticide and suicide. Watson feels that this genetic basis divorces evil from morality. After all, how can a gene, even a selfish one, be moral?
But while individual genes may be ruthless, whole organisms need not necessarily be so. Vampire bats may give starving companions a transfusion. Watson describes this as a ratchet effect, where generosity grows from indifference.
So where do humans fit into this grand plan? Watson cannot discuss human nature without reference to morality. He admits that we may be the 鈥渇irst ethical animal鈥�, but still tries to justify some evils on the grounds of biology. A cop-out.
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