Altruism is a deep phenomenon, of interest and relevance to scholars across the a range of disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences. This book discussed issues such as: the efficacy of motivational altruism in the resolution of public issues; the genetic origins of altruism and its attendant risks; and the metaphysical basis of altruism.

A notable feature of this volume is that the various authors have not 'talked past' one another. Although each is a specialist in his field, the papers are accessible to those in other fields, and to non-specialists. Both individually and together, they provide a rich set of insights and perspectives on altruism as a fundamental human and social phenomenon, which will edify, interest, and stimulate all readers of the volume.