Altruism 'in-built' in humans

BBC News ^ | 3 March 2006 | Helen Briggs

[Antonello]

In experiments reported in the journal Science, toddlers helped strangers complete tasks such as stacking books.

Young chimps did the same, providing the first direct evidence of altruism in non-human primates.

Altruism may have evolved six million years ago in the common ancestor of chimps and humans, the study suggests.

[socialismisinsidious]

doctrines

key word, but does not seem to apply here.

[6SJ7]

"...toddlers helped strangers complete tasks such as stacking books. Young chimps did the same..."

Dr Ray Stantz: Symmetrical book stacking. Just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.
Dr. Peter Venkman: You're right, no human being would stack books like this.

[Graybeard58]

See also:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1589454/posts

[TampaDude]

Is it really altruism? If you can help someone at little cost to yourself (and even benefit from the play aspect of socially doing something with someone else), you may create a potential ally for some future time when you may be in need.

Exactly! We are all self-interested, even if we don't want to admit it. We do things that appear altruistic because we derive some benefit from it, even if that benefit is a potential future ally, or even just a "good feeling".

[Socratic]

Doing something to stave off boredom or to learn smething new is altrusitic just because one interacts with another while doing it? I don't think so.

[Candor7]

Altruism? After you.

[gusopol3]

oh, for gosh sake, Life magazine was reporting on interspecies "altruism" around African watering holes 40 years ago.

[Jonathan]

Please.

I challenge you to prove altruism by the "theory of evolution" on the genetic level.

Alruism is self-extinguishing and genetically destructive.

Its appearance in so many species is a devastating argument against the false science of evolution.

[afz400]

"Alruism is self-extinguishing and genetically destructive. "
Seems to me that Jesus Christ was altruistic.

[Snowbelt Man]

Ever work in a nursery? Have any children? Altruism mya have evolved six million years ago in the common ancestor of chimps and humans. This stuff just keeps getting better and better. Almost like listening to Katrina coverage.

[VOA]

In experiments reported in the journal Science, toddlers helped strangers
complete tasks such as stacking books.

Looks more like "primate see, primate do".

[Jonathan]

You are mixing metaphors, so I can too . . .

His body is still alive (see Ephesians 5).

[Intolerant in NJ]

Now let them go to work on how my year old daughter can mimic so accurately the funny facial contortions I make for her sans mirror.....

[RightWingAtheist]

This has long being a tenet of evolutionary psychology.

[hail to the chief]

Perhaps you could provide some evidence for us Neandrathal evilutionists.

[hail to the chief]

It's a leap of faith to say that something may have happened?

[bvw]

In current temper of the times, yes. What they are leaping to, is to appear with the faithful on the bandwagon of Science 2006. There is so much fear of straying from the "true" path.

[bvw]

Ever watch Stargate SG-1? It's exactly like the current plot line on that Sci Fi Channel series. When the Ori-world common folk say "Blessed be the Ori!" The invocation of "Blessed be Darwinism!" is ths subtext in that conclusion that yet another "blessed" nilhilistic evolutionary event has been possibly observed, according to the current catechism of the Holy Church of Science.

[curiosity]

This thread is too funny. Objectivists teaming up with creationists to bash science.LOL.

[hail to the chief]

So by the logic of your assertions, there is no conceivable way that cooperative tendencies could have evolved.

Feel free to substantiate your assertions at any time.