If I have devised a fool-proof way to steal X dollars from somebody - my employer, the old person that I know, the government, whoever - and I know that it can't be traced to me, what do I do?
I've got a heck of a lot better chances of propagating my genes with cash than without, eh?
> If I have devised a fool-proof way to steal X dollars from somebody...
Keep in mind, the vast majority of the duration of modern man on Earth was spent *prior* to people haing much in the way of stuff. Super-criminals and perfect criems and whatnot were not a concern... living to next week was. THAT was the crucible in which our sense of morality evolved.
So, yeah, there are situations brought about by relatively recent developments that challenge my basic hypothesis. But that's when man's capacity for *reason* kicks in. Most of us know instinctively that theft is basically wrong. Those that don't know that instictively... well, let's hope they get religion and live in fear of eternal punishment.