— The Lessons of History P. 19 – 21 … the laws of biology are the fundamental lessons of history. We are subject to the processes and trials of evolution, to the struggle for existence and the survival of the fittest to survive. If some of us seem to escape the strife or the trials
Tag: Biology
We may frequently behave selfishly as individuals, but in our more idealistic moments we honour and admire those who put welfare of others first
“Perhaps one reason for the great appeal of the group-selection theory is that it is thoroughly in tune with the moral and political ideals that most of us share. We may frequently behave selfishly as individuals, but in our more idealistic moments we honour and admire those who put welfare of others first. We get
Cowardly behaviour of emperor penguins in the Antarctic
“Perhaps we can sympathize more directly with reported cowardly behaviour of emperor penguins in the Antarctic. They have been seen standing on the brink of the water, hesitating before diving in, because of the danger of being eaten by seals. If only one of them would dive in, the rest would know whether there was
It often turns out on closer inspection that acts of apparent altruism are really selfish in disguise
“It often turns out on closer inspection that acts of apparent altruism are really selfish in disguise. … I do not mean that the underlying motives are secretly selfish, but that the real effects of the act on survival prospects are the reverse of what we originally thought.” The Selfish Gene P. 4
Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish
“Be warned that if you wish, as I do, to build a society in which individuals cooperate generously and unselfishly towards a common good, you can expect little help from biological nature. Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. Let us understand what our genes are up to, because
Sperms and eggs contribute equal numbers of genes, but eggs contribute far more in the way of food reserves
“Sperms and eggs contribute equal numbers of genes, but eggs contribute far more in the way of food reserves: indeed, sperms make no contribution at all and are simply concerned with transporting their genes as fast as possible to an egg. At the moment of conception, therefore, the father has invested less than his fair