tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post7995412678333226719..comments2024-03-22T11:32:57.801-07:00Comments on The Alien Next Door: What Altruism in Animals can Teach Us About OurselvesNina Munteanuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00311070435293186699noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-67758516425555190662011-04-27T21:54:07.109-07:002011-04-27T21:54:07.109-07:00Thanks for your comments. However, I disagree with...Thanks for your comments. However, I disagree with your assessment. You suggest that selfishness is the rule in nature. Is this based on scientific evidence or human interpretation? The wealth of information that you suggest refutes altruism may not be what you think it is... just as the conclusions of several studies that suggest that animals practice only limited (reciprocal or kin) altruism... <br /><br />I write more on this topic here: http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/2010/08/samaritan-paradox-revisited-karma-is.htmlNina Munteanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00311070435293186699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-63163954853203883792011-04-06T21:15:03.708-07:002011-04-06T21:15:03.708-07:00Interesting article although I am not a "beli...Interesting article although I am not a "believer". There is a considerable wealth of scientific data that refutes your basic premise. Selfishness is the rule in animal societies as cheater alleles are strongly selected for by natural selection and drive altruism to extinction. There are cases of "altruism" but most are restricted to helping your on kin or helping yourself one way or the other (hence not true altruism)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-52165620471569162162010-06-29T07:01:13.684-07:002010-06-29T07:01:13.684-07:00Well said, Kaslkaos. Eloquently, in fact. Thanks.
...Well said, Kaslkaos. Eloquently, in fact. Thanks.<br />NinaNina Munteanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00311070435293186699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-61902127697558186142010-06-29T05:45:58.852-07:002010-06-29T05:45:58.852-07:00Much of what we fancy is 'human nature' is...Much of what we fancy is 'human nature' is part of a continuum. Human's are a unique species as are cats, mice, dolphins. Yes, we are different but much the same. We use words, in our heads, and on paper to define and elaborate on things we already feel and do, so 'altruism' sounds like something uniquely human but the impulse is there in lesser and greater amounts. What can it teach us? It teaches us that we are a part of nature, not above it, or even below. We have really big brains, though, and ought to put that capacity to some collectively altruistic work.kaslkaoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04041865957191874234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-12067930866601948262010-06-28T14:48:30.174-07:002010-06-28T14:48:30.174-07:00Ah, that is the $64+ question, isn't it? There...Ah, that is the $64+ question, isn't it? There is so much else involved here, particularly with humans but any zoologist will tell you so too with most social animals; and that is that the socializing aspect, the environment and other factors strongly influence the outcome of an individual's behavior, whether they realize their potential or not. What would Hitler have been like if his childhood and later experiences had been different? <br /><br />Ok, I'm going to step out here and say that there is no doubt in my mind that altruism (true altruism) is not confined to humanity. I believe that all life forms have the capacity for altruism--what is wanting is our ability to perceive it and measure it and, in many cases, to accept it.<br /><br />And until we do accept it and embrace all that it means--scientifically or not--I truly believe that our future on this planet is severely limited. We will continue the spiral of isolation from and disrespect of Nature (ironically translates to self-disrespect); we will miss the important signs Nature has been giving us; we will miss the chance to evolve and embark on a new era of synergistic cooperation.Nina Munteanuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00311070435293186699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8584840770244929.post-13984449797514600372010-06-27T10:00:43.384-07:002010-06-27T10:00:43.384-07:00Altruism in animals is essentially base nature, wh...Altruism in animals is essentially base nature, what they will do, because they are made to do these things. One breed of animal is not all the same.Does this transfer to humans? What is a human's base nature? It is so wide, from a gentle person to a serial killer.Jean-Luc Picardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01689798190618944262noreply@blogger.com