This is a provocative and clever exploration of the motives behind human actions - from morality and authority to religion. In this in-depth examination of human motives, author Martin Jaffe argues that the fundamental need for security is the unifying principle that motivates all human behaviour - including moral and altruistic, as well as immoral and evil behaviour. He shows that when moral philosophy, social philosophy, and the philosophy of religion are viewed as manifestations of the quest for security, a new understanding of these endeavours unfolds. The core principle present in "The Primal Instinct" is that security is the goal of all human actions, and that whoever controls a person's security, controls their actions - the basis of authority. It also explores how religion provides the ultimate authority figure in the concept of God. Belief in God or the supernatural may make the faithful feel more secure, but as science shows, does nothing to provide real world security. Jaffe concludes with a well reasoned and evidence-based argument that God does not exist.
