Re: Nano Morality


On Wed, 19 Apr 2006, rhooker123@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

I think that position is indefensible from an evolutionary biology
standpoint. Evolution is always a single organism affair. Merely
because another individual is a member of the same culture does not
mean they are close to me genetically, so genes that would support such
a behavior pattern would not preferentially survive. This is in
contrast to genes that support altruism towards blood relatives. I'd
suggest reading "The Selfish Gene" by Dawkins.

First the idea that evolution is a single invdividual affair and not a
species affair is dogma, and not even scientific. Evolution is about
survival and selection, either a single member, really in advanced
creatures 2 memebers, or an entire collection like a hive.

A hive is a large extended family, where the workers tend to have
more genetic overlap with each other than they would have with their own
offspring (due to males and females not having the same number of sets of
chromosomes). Read some Steven Pinker in addition to Dawkins.

As for a member of the same culture, think about where culture comes
from: clan. For the vast majority of human history a culture was shared
by a clan or tribe, which would all be so close to each other
genetically that they might was well be the same individual.

As for genes being close, humans share 98% of their genome with higher
apes, just take a trip to Japan or Ireland and tell me that people are
not all within 5 generations related.

The fact remains that any gene I have is also carried by thousands, if
not millions of members of my culture, and the survival of my culture
insures the survival of the gene.

If I develop a gene which promotes the survival of another WHO DOES NOT
HAVE THE GENE the gene is by definition selected out, this is basic
evolution which, despite my lack of mastery of english spelling I would
hope you would grant me some understanding of.

But I profoundly doubt that anyone living in a culture has a single gene
not in the stock of the overall culture, I would imagine it would be
rather rare. I profoundly doubt I have one gene not in circulation
among millions of other humans.

But members of your family are more likely to share genes with you
than strangers so you should favor helping blood relatives over strangers.
This is "kin altruism". The social unit of two people co-operating to
raise children demonstrates what happens when two otherwise unrelated
people have their genetic future in common.

Selection works on a species level not an individual level.

No, members of a species are competing which each other for
success in the same evolutionary niche; it just so happens that some forms
of altruism can enhance the success of the individual. Read some Steven
Pinker, How The Mind Works and The Blank Slate in particular.

--
Dr. Danny Chrastina.

Office: +39 031 3327356 Everywhere else: +39 333 2825623
http://www.chrastina.net/

.

Relevant Pages

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