Certain worker ants have an average life span of about a week. In effect, huge numbers of worker ants trade their individual reproductive opportunities for the improved success of the entire colony of their sisters. (3).
There are plenty more examples of animal altruism. The "watchman" bird lets out a squawk every time it sees a hawk approaching, so all the neighboring flocks know when to fly off, thus confusing the predator. The loud squawk makes it a target of attack, while those who heed the alarm get away. As for dogs and wolves, they bring back food for others who have not taken part in the hunt and who didn't risk their lives in finding it. (2).
Another type of altruism is called reciprocal altruism. This is an act performed with the expectation that the favor will be returned. This theory is illustrated by the lives of vampire bats, who rest during the day time in nesting areas in caves or hollow trees. At night they search for animals, such as cows and horses from which they can obtain a blood meal. A bat's high metabolic rate requires it to consume at least 50% of their body weight in blood. If a bat's hunt is unsuccessful on two consecutive nights, they are in danger of death due to starvation. Successful hunters share their food with the unsuccessful and favors are returned when their hunting fortunes change. (3).
Humans often go out of their way to do favors for others and some may wonder why they feel the need to aid a complete stranger. Yet, human altruism holds many topics of debate such as, whether or not human beings can behave altruistically and expect nothing for themselves and how humans have socially evolved to become so different from all other species. Some may refer to human altruism as "the great paradox." "Human altruism is a result of a combination of genetic and cultural influences." This statement is valid because if altruism is a universal phenomenon, then it must be genetically connected to humans.
Altruism means any behavior that is kind, generous and helpful to others. People are not likely to read about altruism in a newspaper, but they take place with great occurrence. ... Altruism is an innate trait that has been passed along through the process of evolution. ... It is believe that not only altruism lies in heredity but in learning. There are wide individual differences in tendencies toward altruism. ...
Introduction The concept of altruism is used in normal situations to refer to selflessness. ... The notion of altruism has a long historical background in ethics and philosophy. ... Even though the concept of altruism in one field of study can have impact on other fields of study, different focuses or methods used in these fields of study always lead to different perceptions on altruism. ... The concept of altruism may be considered a general behavior in the cases whereby altruism has been considered an individual's trait. ... It is a bit challenging to tell whether anyone possess the tra...
People who experience altruism are usually affected psychologically. ... In the book, "Altruism: An Accident of Nature?"... In "The Negative Side to Altruism," Jason Summers insists that altruism leads to idleness. ... Without altruism, we would not be able to perform simple tasks. ... Altruism has been known to give people a sense of happiness. ...
Discuss evolutionary explanations of altruism Altruism is a very interesting subject and is the cause for much debate throughout many academic areas as well as psychology, such as biology and economics. People are always asking "Is there such a thing as true altruism?" To begin I would like to define what I mean by altruism. ... Not all altruism is entirely selfless as it can often be directed towards kin or it can be a form of reciprocal altruism. ... So, this may also not be true altruism. ...
One may define altruism as a selfless regard for the well being of other individuals. ... This theory can only explain altruism when the donor and recipient are akin to each other. ... He then discovered reciprocal altruism among male olive baboons (Papio Anhuis). ... But for reciprocal altruism to evolve, the helper must be more fit in the long run. ... Another explanation for altruism in evolutionary perspective is sexual selection. ...
In 1971, one hundred years after Darwin's ideas on reciprocal altruism were in The Descent of Man, Trivers published a paper that was called "The Evolution of Reciprocal Altruism" In The Quarterly Review of Biology (Wright 1994). ... Mutual betrayal is like both not offering a favor in the first place, even though both my benefit from reciprocal altruism, this way neither will get hurt. With reciprocal altruism there is a delay in time between the altruism and its reciprocation, but the players in the prisoner's dilemma gave themselves up at the same time (Wright 1994). ... This ...
In some way this condition is called heroism or altruism. ... It seems that for Woods and Rusesabagina altruism is an intrinsic part of their nature. ... Woods notices that, "As humans, we worship altruism. ... He assumes that the young generation is one of the nobler spirits that knows what altruism means. ... It was how they saw themselves in relation to others, and that is the key to understand altruism....
There is no such thing as a purely altruistic act. In Frans de Waal's essay, The Ape and the Sushi Master, we learn how all acts of kindness root from some knowledge of selfish gain. Both Lani Guinier (Second Proms and Second Primaries) and Mary Kaldor (Beyond Militarism, Arms Races, and Ar...
