Conclusion: The Core Principles of a Good Society

If there is one central characteristic of human beings as a species that has been most important in explaining not merely our survival on this planet but also our rise and dominance, it is our flexibility. Our large and powerful brains evolved to allow us to become extraordinarily adaptable to all manner of changes in the living and nonliving environment that surrounded us and to meet the challenges they presented. We did not grow extra hands, feet, eyes, or ears, but instead met and overcame these challenges mainly through social, cultural, and technological innovation. We are primed to be flexible and adaptable; it is embedded in our DNA, a key part of the recipe for our striking relative success.