Comments on: Evolution of altruism: kin selection or affect hunger? http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/ For a greater understanding of the encultured brain and body... Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:12:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Brandon Keim http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/#comment-14640 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:36:32 +0000 http://neuroanthropology.net/?p=2676#comment-14640 You’d love Marilynne Robinson’s “Absence of Mind”

]]> By: Greg Downey’s top 10 of 2009 « Neuroanthropology http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/#comment-10294 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:18:41 +0000 http://neuroanthropology.net/?p=2676#comment-10294 [...] Evolution of altruism: kin selection or affect hunger? — Walter Goldschmidt’s book (and an email from him) inspired me to re-examine the [...]

]]> By: Carnival of Evolution #10 « The Oyster’s Garter http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/#comment-5215 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:30:27 +0000 http://neuroanthropology.net/?p=2676#comment-5215 [...] to force me to evolve by activating or deactivating my genes. Wondering if I am cute enough to induce locals into altruism via affect hunger, as Greg Downey at Neuroanthropology thinks that passing myself off as poor [...]

]]> By: Tom Rees http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/#comment-5201 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:40:38 +0000 http://neuroanthropology.net/?p=2676#comment-5201 Not so fast with the rejection of kin selection! Kin selection doesn’t require you to sacrifice your life for relatives. Just for you to sacrifice something for relatives.

Evolution would predict that people would be extremely unlikely to sacrifice their lives for non-close relatives. I think that the statistics probably bear this out.

Kin selection is not the only evolutionary cause of altruism – co-operative breeders would also display altruism (https://mywebspace.wisc.edu/kacronin/web/Snowdon%20&%20Cronin%202007.pdf)

Also, there’s a difference between co-operative and altruistic. I suspect that Mafia brotherhoods are more of the latter than the former.

Religions commonly trigger motifs of family (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080909122749.htm). Non-genetic altruism may be an example of cultural evolution, facilitated by religion.

]]> By: Four Stone Hearth #63: Bathing in the warm waters of ancient knowledge « Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/03/20/evolution-of-altruism-kin-selection-or-affect-hunger/#comment-5181 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:54:36 +0000 http://neuroanthropology.net/?p=2676#comment-5181 [...] Appropriate for the opening day of hearings and voting on Texas public school science standards, Greg Downey at Neuroanthropology looks at the evolution of altruism, with a review and commentary on Walter Goldschmidt’s book, The Bridge to Humanity. [...]

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