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Evolution is proven!

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magz
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16 Dec 2019, 3:23 am

RetroGamer87 wrote:
magz wrote:
When people state that evolution should promote extremely egoistic behaviors, I would like to point out one aspect:

Humans naturally form societes.
Humans evolve as societes (tribes, cultures, etc).
Individual humans survive and reproduce within their societes.

This is why "altruistic" behaviors really help survive - if they help the society survive and if the society rewards them.

True but in evolution of social animals some individuals will always try to break the rules in for personal gain. It happens in social insects too.

And the societes try to punish them. And there is constant pressure both ways that may sometimes lead to developing new strategies.

I never said it's one-sided all-peace world, no. But it's neither a one-sided all-war world.


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Wolfram87
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16 Dec 2019, 4:22 am

Twilightprincess wrote:

Are you suggesting that people actually think: I’d better help this person out because it will help me survive?

I don’t think that people are as selfish as you are suggesting.


Not people, genes. Obviously genes don't literally think, but genes are metaphorically selfish. See "the Selfish Gene" by Dawkins.

Cooperation and empathy can be favoured and instilled by "selfish" genes because it leads to greater propagation of those genes.


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kraftiekortie
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16 Dec 2019, 8:35 am

No matter the altruistic or selfish origin, empathy and good deeds are much better than a lack of empathy or a lack of good deeds.



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16 Dec 2019, 9:07 am

Wolfram87 wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:

Are you suggesting that people actually think: I’d better help this person out because it will help me survive?

I don’t think that people are as selfish as you are suggesting.


Not people, genes. Obviously genes don't literally think, but genes are metaphorically selfish. See "the Selfish Gene" by Dawkins.

Cooperation and empathy can be favoured and instilled by "selfish" genes because it leads to greater propagation of those genes.


Right, but that’s a little different from what the OP seemed to be suggesting - that altruistic acts stem from “selfish desire,” implying that people are intentionally being selfish when they engage in altruism but that’s not usually the case.


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