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Could it have been E.O. Wilson's Sociobiology: The New Synthesis? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiology:_The_New_Synthesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S

by grzm 9y ago

Could it have been E.O. Wilson's Sociobiology: The New Synthesis? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiology:_The_New_Synthesis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociobiology:_The_New_Synthesi... The two brothers/eight cousins idea goes back as far as Haldane regarding kin selection: > No, but I would to save two brothers or eight cousins. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/J._B._S._Haldane https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/J._B._S._Haldane Wikiquote has that as quoted in 2007, but I'm not sure how far back he originally stated it.

cgag 9y ago
The version I heard was "I would gladly give up my life for two brothers or eight cousins.". I much prefer it.
- grzm 9y ago
  It's more succinct and stands alone (as opposed to the actual quote, which requires additional context), I agree. It's just not quote attributed to anyone in particular, as far as I know.