# The Evolution of Cooperation **URL:** **By** Nicholas A. Christakis, Trevor Burrus, Aaron Ross Powell **Published:** February 14, 2020 --- Nicholas Christakis joins the show today to talk about how humans are unique in that we have evolved the capacity for friendship. What is human nature? It’s a question that’s intrigued philosophers for as long as there’s been philosophy. It’s also where quite a lot of political philosophy begins, imagining how our nature would have us live in a world before government. How and why do humans cooperate? Why do we interact with people at all? Is there an issue with freedom of assembly? What kind of society is good for us to live together successfully? ## Further Reading: [Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society](https://www.amazon.com/Blueprint-Evolutionary-Origins-Good-Society/dp/0316230030), written by Nicholas Christakis [Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives -- How Your Friends' Friends' Friends Affect Everything You Feel, Think, and Do](https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Surprising-Networks-Friends-Everything/dp/0316036137), written by Nicholas Christakis \& James H. Fowler [Nicholas Christakis on the Joe Rogan Experience](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PnkZx3kwTM) ## Related Content: [An Introduction to Public Choice](https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/free-thoughts/an-introduction-to-public-choice), Free Thoughts Podcast [What Theory Won’t Tell You About Public Goods](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/what-theory-tell-public-goods), written by Jon Murphy [Making the World Better](https://www.libertarianism.org/blog/making-world-better), written by Aaron Ross Powell