Altruism : David Sloan Wilson

Over time, humans have created weapons to not only defend themselves, but to defend the nation’s security as well. Perry, a seventeen year old, balances his flaws and sympathetic qualities throughout the book Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. He is neither evil nor good, but that is why he is morally ambiguous. By looking at Perry during Vietnam War, he portrays mercy, selfishness, and love to light the way back home.

Group obligation is a topic that has given rise to many differing opinions and philosophies to emerge, even to this day. The question is whether or not certain groups have the duty or the burden of helping out another group, and any answer only leads to more questions. If yes, how much help? What is the best way to go about it? If no, then there is the looming question of morality and doing what is right. When faced with a question like this, answers can be looked for from many different facets. Religion, economics, or science can be used to guide one’s opinion on this topic.

Next a Turk from Constantinople; a Greek Christian from Crete; an Armenian; a Methodist from the wilds of Arkansas; a Buddhist from China; a Brahman from Benares. Finally, a Salvation Army Colonel from Wapping. Then I stayed away two whole days. When I came back to note results, the cage of Higher Animals was all right, but in the other there was but a chaos of gory odds and ends of turbans and fezzes and plaids and bones -- not a specimen left alive. These Reasoning Animals had disagreed on a theological detail and carried the matter to a Higher Court.” This is his final example to show that human beings are the lower species. However, I disagree with this experiment, I do not believe that the experiment would end this way. People of different backgrounds are able to live alongside each other, and even become friends. Twain’s theory is disproved by communities great and small, neighborhoods, countries, and the world. If people were truly as evil and violent as Twain makes them out to be, we would have no civilization, no law, and no

Dawkins (1976) also provides evidence that altruism is ultimately selfish. He separated individuals into three categories in regards to prosocial behaviour displayed. These were grudgers, cheats and suckers. Grudgers were deemed to be the most evolutionary stable category, as they could control and ‘punish’

Even in nature you see acts of altruism. An example is the meerkat; who participates in a cooperative breeding and feeding, and community guarding. The dominant males and females are the “chosen”, which are allowed to breed

John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon, “A Model of Christian Charity” is one of the first examples of early “American exceptionalism”. (Noll, 2012) In his sermon, Winthrop (1630) talks about how the citizens in colonial America should set a good example for others, and obey God, as they are looked up to by non-Americans. This concept of America being chosen, or somehow unique in a divine manner was the fundamental meaning of American exceptionalism to Puritan society.

Benjamin Cardozo has a strong argumentative essay against the idea of altruism. Cardozo’s central claim is if people allow altruism to be practiced in government then they will lose their individualism and their government would eventually collapse. To being his article Cardozo explains how the lower class will always dislike the upper class and that is the reason altruism has been a topic of discussion for centuries. Cardozo then proceeds to explain how the world is driven by self interest. The reason things get accomplished by people is for the reason of self interest. Cardozo explains that altruism would kill the idea of self interest and people would be less likely to be productive. Next Cardozo describes how altruism would make all people poor which would give the illusion that no one was actually poor. Cardozo then goes on to ask the question of how altruism

A Model of Christian Charity is a sermon by John Winthrop. He gives this sermon aboard the Arbella in 1630. John Winthrop began his and his Christian's journey with words for guidance and inspiration. He starts his sermon by stating that God created the rich and the poor. He created them for different reasons, in order to manifest his exertion in the areas of mercy, love, gentleness, faith, patience and obedience. Religion is used as a way of connecting with the Puritans. He also uses references from the bible to prove his points. He talks about how God has created the three laws, and how if you follow them you will be

Out of selfishness and altruism, which has more of a say in our decisions as people? It is arguable that humans are naturally selfish, with every decision we make ultimately being for the good of ourselves. In picking a future spouse we originally become interested in a person when their appearance is appealing to us, in choosing a group of friends we often choose groups that are able to bring us benefit and better social stature, in choosing jobs we prefer the one which will bring us more

Called the covariance or Price equation, this formula tested natural selection and altruism's role in it (Bankston). “From the Price equation, we can see that such ultimate causes equate to the different ways in which the frequency of an altruistic allele in a population can increase. Under this approach, the ultimate causes underlying the evolution of altruism, given some positive fitness costs and benefits” (Marshall).

An oxymoron appeared to exist between Darwin’s theory of natural selection (1859) and the definition of altruism (West et al., 2006). Hamilton’s theory of inclusive fitness (1964) appeared to mediate this problem. However, the theory does not explain altruistic acts towards non-kin in line with natural selection. Reciprocal altruism (Trivers, 1971), indirect altruism (Alexander, 1987) and strong reciprocity (Gintis, 2000) have been proposed to resolve this conflict. It is of note that behaviour in all theories has been noted in animals, but will not be discussed further. Instead, the essay will focus on which theories are most relevant when understanding human sociality, with the author explaining why no sole theory is seen to describe the phenomenon. All theories will be discussed in relation to evolutionary stable strategies (ESS), which refers to plans that when adopted by a majority of members in a population that restrict any other action existing, which could yield higher reproductive success (Smith & Price, 1973).

Batson, C. D. (1991). The Altruism Question: Toward a Social-Psychological Answer. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Nevertheless, one recent study suggests that genetic differences between our ancestors could have resulted in lethal intergroup competition which disfavoured non-altruists [6]. I will attempt to link this theory to what is known as kin selection. Kin selection explains altruism as an act increasing the probability of an individual’s genes being transmitted to the next generation. [3] We share half of our genes our siblings and parents, and a quarter with cousins, nephews and nieces. [1, 2] Therefore, altruistic behaviour towards these individuals would result in our genes passing on due to their higher probability of survival. This is known as increasing one’s inclusive fitness. [7] Since early human societies included members genetically related to one another, [6] kin selection between these individuals resulted in the societies growing in size. Thus, societies genetically predisposed in displaying co-operative, altruistic behaviour towards each other (through acts such as group hunting, mutually defending each other, and sharing food) are more capable of surviving, resulting in the altruistic gene surviving.[1] This, I believe, is the predominant explanation for altruism in humans today. The act of altruism is a genetic inheritance evolving through the basic instinct of survival and continuity of species.

Peter Singer said; “If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally, to do it” (Famine, Affluence, and Morality). As human beings, we have a moral compulsion to help other people, despite the verity that they may be strangers, especially when whatever type of aid we may render can in no approach have a more significant consequence on our own life.

The Effect of Personal Characteristics on Prosocial Behaviour In this essay, it will be first looked at the effect personal characteristics have on Prosocial behaviour including the level of moral reasoning of individuals, vicarious emotional reactions, altruism, guilt, self concern, the Just World hypothesis and also the biological approach. Secondly it will be looked at how being part of a group can effect an individuals Prosocial behaviour. Intra-group factors that will be covered include the Bystander Effect, modelling and norms. Finally, factors concerning immediate and larger context will be covered.