Can Evolution Explain Altruism in Our Children?

ICR News ^ | December 8, 2009 | Brian Thomas, M.S.

[GodGunsGuts]

esearch has shown that humans like to help, even before they are old enough to have been taught how to do so. This innate characteristic distinguishes humans from their supposed closest evolutionary family member, the chimpanzee, which doesn’t demonstrate the same altruistic behavior.

In studies on the subject, at only 18 months old, toddlers were observed to consistently aid unrelated adults in simple tasks such as opening a door or picking up a clothes pin. Researchers assumed then that altruism, or unselfish concern for the welfare of others, evolved early in humans. But does this conclusion necessarily follow from the observations? ...

[demshateGod]

I think this will help you understand God a little.

http://www.mbbc.us/resources/bibleconcepts.doc
http://www.mbbc.us/resources/

God creating all things good and Adam’s sin corrupted it.

[demshateGod]

Evolution is a smart god, he’s a jerk, but he’s smart.

[demshateGod]

My sister has an autistic son. She told me there’s a movement that claims Autism is the next step in evolution because altruism is bad for our species.

[demshateGod]

You might like God if you got to know Him.

[Moonman62]

I don’t think God will take kindly to evos who try to convince humanity that the altruistic behavior of HIS little children is the product of random processes plus survival.

How about when they soil their diapers?

Not to mention that "random processes plus survival" is a strawman for evolution.

[xcamel]

Even in lower species, where symbiosis might be considered a form of altruism

[Moonman62]

I hadn't thought about that, but you're right. How about mitochondria and chloroplasts?

Another thing is that evolution is more about survival of the fittest species than survival of the fittest individual.

[1rudeboy]

Wait a minute—are you saying this Thomas bozo, in making his argument, cites to an authority whose research indicates the exact opposite of the central claim Thomas is making? Did I read that correctly?

[xcamel]

Welcome to the world of creationists.. and their ‘scientific’ hogwash.

[1rudeboy]

What the heck is a “M.S.,” and how do I go about making certain that my nieces, nephews, and friends’ children never get one?

[xcamel]

“Master of Snakeoil”

[Admin Moderator]

Sorry, but as a mod, I can tell you Jim’s permission to post these stories in News/Activism is a directive and was not just implied. You really shouldn’t waste time trying to debate the subtleties of that point.

[count-your-change]

Foot...It Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

[AliVeritas]

Reminds me, I meant to send you these, they’re so applicable now.

Series (second and third parts in sidebar):

Crises of the World:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCl1IgGfxIA&feature=channel

How to Think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MooGE6FwaY&feature=related

Identity Crises

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYnkGU71-fA&feature=related

We are in Two Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEVi1kw1YL8&feature=PlayList&p=48C7D05B6AB5C35B&index=0&playnext=1

The Death of God

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUvSuIE4Ja0&feature=related

Psychology and Psychiatry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChF4P7PIx4I&feature=related

False Compassion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXQP3UJnagM&feature=related

Caring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFcyFA6jLCc&feature=related

[metmom]

My sister has an autistic son. She told me there’s a movement that claims Autism is the next step in evolution because altruism is bad for our species.

If you google up *autism* and *evolution*, you'll get links.....

It takes all kinds......

[ElectricStrawberry]

So THIS is "defending religious freedom"????

BTMS* lies again:

No other animal needs or uses the uniquely human capacities for cooperation to hunt or find food successfully

OBVIOUSLY, dear BTMS* needs to do his research before spewing such an untruth. Insects do this very thing, many mammal species do this very thing....many fish species do this very thing, many birds do this very thing....

The best science writer indeed...

[metmom]

For the record, instead of quote mining, let’s print the whole comment, even the part about God creating things.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2402077/posts?page=119#119

“I love science. Just like evolution, it’s one of God’s greatest creations. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. God creates everything for a reason. He created you and me. He created GGG, xcamel and all FReepers and placed us all here together on FR for a reason. He even created the duck billed platypus for a reason. Mine is not to question why or even to do or die. To God Be the Glory.”

FWIW, creationists live science as well. We just don’t love the abuse of science for gain of political or ideological ends, or as a weapon with which to bash religion and Christianity and Christians.

[xcamel]

You stumping for some kind of martyr’s award or something ??

I mean you are just sooooo oppressed and misunderstood...

[GSP.FAN]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altruism_in_animals

# Dogs often adopt orphaned cats, squirrels, ducks and even tigers.[6]
# Dolphins support sick or injured animals, swimming under them for hours at a time and pushing them to the surface so they can breathe.[7]
# Wolves and wild dogs bring meat back to members of the pack not present at the kill.[citation needed]
# Male baboons threaten predators and cover the rear as the troop retreats.[citation needed]
# Gibbons and chimpanzees with food will, in response to a gesture, share their food with others of the group.[citation needed]. Chimpanzees will help humans and Conspecifics without any reward in return.[8]
# Bonobos have been observed aiding injured or handicapped bonobos.[9]
# Vampire bats commonly regurgitate blood to share with unlucky or sick roost mates that have been unable to find a meal, often forming a buddy system.[10][11]
# Raccoons inform conspecifics about feeding grounds by droppings left on commonly shared latrines. A similar information system has been observed to be used by common ravens.[12]
# In numerous bird species, a breeding pair receives support in raising its young from other “helper” birds, including help with the feeding of its fledglings.[13] Some will even go as far as protecting an unrelated bird’s young from predators [14]
# Most mammal carnivores like wolves or dogs have a habit of not harming pack members below certain age, of opposite sex or in surrendering position (in case of some animals, the behavior exists within entire species rather than one pack).[citation needed]
# Vervet Monkeys give alarm calls to warn fellow monkeys of the presence of predators, even though in doing so they attract attention to themselves, increasing their personal chance of being attacked.[15]
# Walruses have been seen adopting orphans who lost their parents to predators.[16]
# Some termites release a sticky secretion by fatally rupturing a gland near the skin in their neck. This autothysis defends against invading ants by creating a tar baby effect

[scottdeus12]

“These researchers have shown exactly what the Bible has been saying all along, that humans are well-designed moral creatures who have fallen from their original perfect relationship with their Creator. But thank God, He has revealed the Way out of this fallen state.”

Thank God for that.