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In 'The God Delusion' Richard Dawkins mentions a few ways altruism and compassion etc could've evolved in humans (by way of selfish genes). I remember one fasc
by amasad 10y ago
In 'The God Delusion' Richard Dawkins mentions a few ways altruism and compassion etc could've evolved in humans (by way of selfish genes).
I remember one fascinating example about Arabian babblers which use altruism to assert dominance. They seek out increasingly dangerous positions to alert the herd of potential predetors. And by feeding others as a way to say 'look at me I am so superior to you I can afford to feed you'. Of course, they are rewarded by getting all the mates.
- farnsworth 10y agoThe Arabian Babbler is a bird, for anyone else who was imagining a babbling Arabian human. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_babbler#Behaviour https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_babbler#Behaviour - interesting
- nyolfen 10y agothere's an excellent blog post i read recently that builds on the model of arabian babblers to describe how altruistic 'prestige economies' can evolve from self-interested motives in really compelling way: http://www.meltingasphalt.com/social-status-down-the-rabbit-hole/ http://www.meltingasphalt.com/social-status-down-the-rabbit-... (a bit long, but very worth it)