Peter Kropotkin
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution (1902) by Peter Kropotkin argues that cooperation, rather than competition alone, is a major force in evolution and social progress. Drawing on examples from animal life, early human societies, medieval guilds, and modern communities, Kropotkin shows that mutual support enhances survival and well-being. He challenges Social Darwinist ideas that emphasize 'survival of the fittest' as ruthless struggle, proposing instead that solidarity, empathy, and voluntary cooperation are natural and powerful drivers of both biological evolution and human society.