From Molecules to Morality: The Evolution Of Altruism

Darwin Day 2010 Daniel Sprockett February 11, 2010

Outline
What is Morality?
Where does it come from?
What does a scientific understanding of the world have to say about moral issues?

Morality
ideas about right and wrong
Altruism
sacrifice for the benefit of another individual
Symbiosis
Mutualism
+/+
Commensalism
0/+
Parasitism
-/+

Where does Morality come from?
Francis Collins
The Language of God (2006):
The “Moral Law” is evidence of God’s existence
Our Capacity for Selflessness
Our Ability to understand the difference between right and wrong

Kin Selection
W.D. Hamilton (1964)
Hamilton’s Rule:
R x B > C
in a given situation, the individual assesses his neighbor's fitness against his own according to the coefficients of their relatedness
"I would lay down my life for two brothers or eight cousins” -J.B.S Haldane

Kin Selection

Kin Selection
Elsewhere in the animal kingdom:
Other Primates
Dolphins
Elephants
Plants
Slime Molds ( Dictyostelium descodeum )

Reciprocal Altruism
Robert Trivers (1971)
Helping someone at a cost to myself is beneficial if the likelihood that they’ll help you in the reverse situation is high.
The Golden Rule
Likelihood decreases as dispersal increases

Reciprocal Altruism
Can help explain social Functions of emotions:
Friendship: Liking and Disliking
Moralistic Aggression: Protection from cheaters
Gratitude and Sympathy
Trust and Suspicion

Reciprocal Altruism
Other Animals:
Warning calls
Cleaner Fish

Reciprocal Altruism

Reciprocal Altruism
Game Theory:
The Prisoner’s Dilemma

The Selfish Gene (1976) The Altruistic Animal

What can cognitive neuroscience tell us about how we make moral decisions?

Functional MRI Studies Greene et al., Science, 2001

Morality vs. Pro-social Behavior

“ Science is not in the business of shedding light on moral debates.”
-Richard Dawkins

However, science CAN inform moral debates because:
Scientific thinking can reveal inconsistencies in moral philosophy.
scientific information can illuminate moral decisions
Slavery
Abortion
Animal Rights

Questions?
“ Morality: From the Heavens or From Nature?” By Dr. Andy Thomson, AAI 2009
“ Nice Guys Finish First.” By Richard Dawkins, BBC 1987
www.MolecularFossils.com

From Molecules to Morality: The Evolution Of Altruism

by MolecularFossils on Feb 12, 2010

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