this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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There is a book named The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins that talks about this and how this can explain altruistic behaviour. Highly recommended.
Thank you. I know of it, but haven't read it. I probably know a very superficial version of the argument, but I might find a full-length description of it more credible. Even so, it seems more fortunate than inevitable to me.
The book explains how genes are only 'concern' with their own replication and survival... Of course genes aren't intelligent and have actual desires, but genes that are beneficial to their own survival and spread are going to be common in the gene pool, not based on the greater organism or the species.
Even with that, it creates a condition where these selfish genes benefit from cooperation... The critters who act altruistically in the right circumstances will benefit and increase the survivability of their genes.
Also what you mentioned about things being tough causing people to betray each other... This is also discussed both from a prisoner's dilemma (multiple versions of it), and in biology and other game theory examples.
Highly recommended read, and if you do pick it up, I hope you read the latest edition of the book published in 2016, which has extra commentary from the author which is also interesting.
FYI: In this book, Richard Dawkins invented the word meme to rhyme with gene, describing the evolution and spread of ideas... Little did he know, back in the 70's when he wrote the book, that the word he invented to describe the evolution of ideas would evolve into the memes we know today.