The Dutch naturalist, one of the world figures of evolutionary biology, became very popular by explaining the intelligence and empathy of animals without losing scientific rigor.
In the 1970s, Dutch naturalist Frans de Waal shifted from his academic training to study Political and Social Sciences to better understand the power struggles, strategies, and alliances he observed among chimpanzees at the Burgers Zoo in Arnhem, Netherlands. His findings concluded that conflict mediation, coalition management, and flexibility were key in primate leadership, not brute force or direct power exercise. His book «Chimpanzee Politics» (1982) brought him fame, blending scientific rigor with mainstream accessibility. De Waal passed away at 75 from stomach cancer in Atlanta, USA. His work significantly bridged the gap between humans and primates, with his observations often featuring memorable examples, such as the death of a dominant chimpanzee named Mama. Through his various works, De Waal emphasized the similarities between humans and primates, arguing that traits like power hunger, territoriality, manipulation, and sex drive are shared, along with generosity, altruism, and solidarity. His books also explored human morality, animal empathy, and complex topics like gender identity, sexuality, gender violence, and friendship. Born into a six-child family in Bolduque. Netherlands, de Waal studied Biology at Nijmegen and Groningen universities, and got his PhD from Utrecht in 1977. He was a prolific writer, publishing on human existence, emotions, intelligence, and religion, and was recognized by Time magazine in 2007 as one of the 100 individuals shaping our world. He advocated for a more nuanced understanding of behavior beyond basic evolutionary usefulness, arguing for the role of empathy in actions like saving stranded marine mammals. After over four decades in the US, he adopted American citizenship alongside his wife. In 2014, he taught at Utrecht and Maastricht universities in the Netherlands, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary cooperation between biology, psychology, and neuroscience.
