1.4 SELECTIVE ALTRUISM

Question 1

altruism

Answer 1

selfless concern for the well-being of others

Question 2

altruistic behaviour

Answer 2

engaging in action which benefits another at the cost to oneself

Question 3

what is the puzzle of altruism, in terms of evolution

Answer 3

paradox. if natural selection selects for selfish genes, why do we sometimes act selflessly. why don’t selfless genes disappear.

Question 4

examples of helping/selfless behaviour in society

Answer 4

 Family + parents … sacrifices for children
 Irrational kindness eg. giving tip @ restaurant you will never go to again
 20mo [young] old children show helpful behaviours
 Pleasure of gift-giving, cross-cultural

Question 5

kin selection [Hamilton]

Answer 5

link between family members to altruism is important. family favouritism. nepotism. helping out those within related groups.

Question 6

inclusive fitness

Answer 6

evolutionary pressure is towards preserving genetic material, not ones own body

Question 7

kin preservation [Dawin]

Answer 7

the selfish gene. genes help themselves by being nice to themselves, even if they are enclosed in different bodies. genes try to increase copies of themselves to maximise their chance of survival.

Question 8

mathematics of genes [Segal]

Answer 8

the closer someone is to us genetically, the greater the evolutionary pressure is towards helping them. identical twins are more helpful toward one another than fraternal twins as they have higher amounts of shared genes.

Question 9

what is the ‘blessed mistake’ of evolution [Dawkins]

Answer 9

That we help strangers / those not related to us.

Question 10

what are some weaknesses to the blessed mistake of evolution

Answer 10

burning house scenario- tend to favour familiarity. evolution trains us to detect relatives. thus, idea that kindness to strangers is an adaptation is wrong or rare.

Question 11

reciprocation idea

Answer 11

intelligent/rational altruism. helping others ina rational way as there is an expectation of return .

Question 12

explain how the desire for a good reputation is linked to reciprocation

Answer 12

good reputation is a form of social credit which makes people want to help us and we are trusted to engage in reciprocation with

Question 13

describe how axial religions promote the golden rule of reciprocation

Answer 13

different than prior religions, which wished death upon enemies. these religions promote compassion even to your enemies.

Question 14

describe how the view of reciprocal helping has expanded beyond religion

Answer 14

• Religions informed governments etc
• We want good reputations + we may end up needing help ourselves
• Welfare systems, foreign aid, pensions, charities

Question 15

what are the three types of self-interested ways of helping

Answer 15

naked, indirect, very subtle

Question 16

naked self interest

Answer 16

helping to build a reputation, as long as the costs arent too high

Question 17

indirect self-interest

Answer 17

i want to live in a nice society where I don’t have to see people in need. so I help people to minimise this. we both gain from my help

Question 18

very subtle self interest

Answer 18

personal principles. i am a person with integrity and therefore I must act as such.

Question 19

name 3 key people in the topic of selective altruism and what they are known for

Answer 19

Dawkins - blessed mistake of evolution, the selfish gene/kin preservation
Hamilton - kin selection

Question 20

what three concepts are exempt from selfishness

Answer 20

genetic closeness, reciprocation, reputation