On the origin of stories: evolution, cognition, and fiction

Introduction: animal, human, art, story

Book 1: Evolution, art, and fiction

Part 1: Evolution and nature

Evolution and human nature?

Evolution, adaptation, and adapted minds

The evolution of intelligence

The evolution of cooperation

Part 2: Evolution and art

Art as adaptation?

Art as cognitive play

Art and attention

From tradition to innovation

Part 3: Evolution and fiction

Art, narrative, fiction

Understanding and recalling events

Narrative: representing events

Fiction: inventing events

Fiction as adaptation

Book II: From Zeus to Seuss: origins of stories

Part 4: Phylogeny: the Odyssey

Earning attention (1): natural patterns: character and plot

Earning attention (s): open-ended patterns: ironies of structure

The evolution of intelligence (1): in the here and now

The evolution of intelligence (2): beyond the here and now

The evolution of cooperation (1): expanding the circle

The evolution of cooperation (2): punishment

Part 5: Ontogeny: Horton hears a who!

Levels of explanation: universal, local, and individual

Levels of explanation: individuality again

Levels of explanation: particular

Meanings

Conclusion: retrospect and prospects: evolution, literature, criticism.