The term 'Survival of the fittest' was a term that Herbert Spencer, a contemporary of Darwin's coined; not Darwin himself. The mistake has left a lasting misunderstanding of Evolutionary Theory though.
At a genetic level, yes genes are selfish. Genes want to only replicate themselves. But in order to do this, those genes that have worked the best and thus become more widespread amongst living things, are genes that collaborate with one another.
If it really was a 'dog eat dog' world, there wouldn't be any of us left. But those 'dogs' that worked together, are the 'dogs' that are more likely to pass on their genes. And so put this principle into practice, you get altruism.
Selfish genes produce altruistic bodies. We feel sympathy for a complete stranger on the street because in our evolutionary ancestry, everyone we met was likely to be a close relative or next of kin; hence the same genes. This was a rule of thumb, which is in layman's terms 'be nice to everybody, because everybody is your relative'.
But this rule of thumb still exists in our genes today. We are compelled genetically (at least most of us) to feel pity for those less fortunate or even a complete stranger directly because of our genes, which has been given to us by evolution.
No God needed.
At a genetic level, yes genes are selfish. Genes want to only replicate themselves. But in order to do this, those genes that have worked the best and thus become more widespread amongst living things, are genes that collaborate with one another.
If it really was a 'dog eat dog' world, there wouldn't be any of us left. But those 'dogs' that worked together, are the 'dogs' that are more likely to pass on their genes. And so put this principle into practice, you get altruism.
Selfish genes produce altruistic bodies. We feel sympathy for a complete stranger on the street because in our evolutionary ancestry, everyone we met was likely to be a close relative or next of kin; hence the same genes. This was a rule of thumb, which is in layman's terms 'be nice to everybody, because everybody is your relative'.
But this rule of thumb still exists in our genes today. We are compelled genetically (at least most of us) to feel pity for those less fortunate or even a complete stranger directly because of our genes, which has been given to us by evolution.
No God needed.
Awesome, as usual. Siria xx
ReplyDeleteWell put!
ReplyDeleteIntersting
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone :)
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