Mary Midgley (1919-), a philosopher with a special interest in ethics, human nature and science, has a widespread international following for her work. Other publications include The Ethical Primate, Science as Salvation, Utopias, Dolphins and Computers and, most recently, Science and Poetry

• Preface, 1 The Problem of Natural Evil 2 Intelligibility and Immoralism 3 The Elusiveness of Responsibility 4 Understanding Aggression 5 Fates, Causes and Free-will 6 Selves and Shadows 7 The Instigators 8 Death-wish 9 Evil in Evolution

' I have now read the book twice, not because it is difficult (on the contrary it reads with the ease and elegance of Bertrand Russell), but because it is so stimulating.' - Brian Masters, The Spectator