Single Idea 21830

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 2. Values / f. Altruism]

Full Idea

Two explanations came forward in the neo-Darwinian synthesis. Altruism is either 1) person-based reciprocal altruism, or 2) gene-based kin altruism.

Gist of Idea

For Darwinians, altruism is either contracts or genetics

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Really Hard Problem [2007], 2 'Darwin')

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Really Hard Problem' [MIT 2007], p.47


A Reaction

Flanagan obviously thinks there is also 'genuine psychological atruism'. Presumably we don't explain mathematics or music or the desire to travel as either contracts or genetics, so we have other explanations available.