The "Human Perception" Thread

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Speaker to Animals
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Re: The "Human Perception" Thread

Post by Speaker to Animals » Sat Dec 31, 2016 6:14 pm

I think, firstly, in order for he genetic altruistic behavior to emerge, the population of humans considered must have undergone gracilization (domestication).

Secondly, you need a modern state. Tribalism will not favor out-group altruism in the least. The modern state will stamp out tribalism in short order and weed out the kin-based behaviors that give rise to it.

Thirdly, you need some form of philosophical or religious motive to drive people towards general altruism, since the initial advantages may not be enough to confer any selective advantages at all. It's only when the genetic behavior is more widespread, and the altruistic sacrifices of a few can greatly benefit many more people, that this adaptation becomes a boon to the population as a whole. We had Christianity for this.

Lastly, there must exist some alleles that will give rise to this behavior in order for the above to select for them.

I think the process probably will take time on the order of thousands of years, but we already have about two thousand under our belt.