Word: altruists
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...this--that self-deprecating feelings toward one's home, simply because it is comfortable, are pointless. There is nothing more "real" about places where infants are starving and everybody is sick, only more tragic I don't know exactly why she left. She must be some kind of pure altruist. She is not religious and I don't think she is worried about getting into heaven...
...felt it would give her a sense of satisfaction that would supercede the temporary pains and miseries. I do not feel that urgency. I will continue to be nice to people, and help others when I can, but I don't think I'll ever be the kind of altruist my sister is Maybe there's room for both of us I hope...
...genetic contribution is human beings." Using game theory, he concluded that natural selection produces individuals that exchange favors?in effect saying, "You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours." In other words, the favor will eventually be returned, thus improving the outlook for the genes of the first altruist. According to the theory, human charitable acts are therefore rooted in biology and gene selfishness. This theory could explain human loyalty to nation, corporation or church; these institutions can provide benefits to members that increase the chances for them to survive and propagate...
...overt cheaters (who accept favors but never return them) are long-term losers in the evolutionary game. Yet subtle cheaters who pretend to cooperate but do not are winners. As a result, Trivers believes, humans survived by evolving a complex psychology and set of emotions to keep the altruist from being exploited by cheaters: indignation, guilt, gratitude, sympathy and moralism...
...deal with them in the same way. For instance, if men are supposed (by nature) to compete with each other with the best man winning out, as an individualistic natural selection model dictates, then both Spencer and Wilson must find ways to explain why some humans are inclined to altruistic acts that appear to be entirely selfless. Wilson and Spencer provide elaborate scientific justifications for these acts of human kindness. Spencer launches into a lengthy passage in "The Date of Ethics" showing, through a network of cost benefits, how an individual betters his fitness by aiding his offspring. Wilson...