The Altruism Equation

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The Altruism Equation

Lee Alan Dugatkin
The Altruism Equation Book PDF

Author : Lee Alan Dugatkin
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 203 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2011-10-30
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781400841431

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The Altruism Equation by Lee Alan Dugatkin Pdf

In a world supposedly governed by ruthless survival of the fittest, why do we see acts of goodness in both animals and humans? This problem plagued Charles Darwin in the 1850s as he developed his theory of evolution through natural selection. Indeed, Darwin worried that the goodness he observed in nature could be the Achilles heel of his theory. Ever since then, scientists and other thinkers have engaged in a fierce debate about the origins of goodness that has dragged politics, philosophy, and religion into what remains a major question for evolutionary biology. The Altruism Equation traces the history of this debate from Darwin to the present through an extraordinary cast of characters-from the Russian prince Petr Kropotkin, who wanted to base society on altruism, to the brilliant biologist George Price, who fell into poverty and succumbed to suicide as he obsessed over the problem. In a final surprising turn, William Hamilton, the scientist who came up with the equation that reduced altruism to the cold language of natural selection, desperately hoped that his theory did not apply to humans. Hamilton's Rule, which states that relatives are worth helping in direct proportion to their blood relatedness, is as fundamental to evolutionary biology as Newton's laws of motion are to physics. But even today, decades after its formulation, Hamilton's Rule is still hotly debated among those who cannot accept that goodness can be explained by a simple mathematical formula. For the first time, Lee Alan Dugatkin brings to life the people, the issues, and the passions that have surrounded the altruism debate. Readers will be swept along by this fast-paced tale of history, biography, and scientific discovery.

The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness

Oren Harman
The Price of Altruism George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness Book PDF

Author : Oren Harman
Publisher : W. W. Norton & Company
Page : 462 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2011-06-20
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9780393339994

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The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness by Oren Harman Pdf

Describes the intellectual journey of eccentric American genius George Price, who tried to answer the evolutionary riddle of why people are nice, and eventually gave away all his belongings and took his own life in a squatter's flat.

The Altruism Equation

Lee Alan Dugatkin
The Altruism Equation Book PDF

Author : Lee Alan Dugatkin
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2022-11-29
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691242132

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The Altruism Equation by Lee Alan Dugatkin Pdf

In a world supposedly governed by ruthless survival of the fittest, why do we see acts of goodness in both animals and humans? This problem plagued Charles Darwin in the 1850s as he developed his theory of evolution through natural selection. Indeed, Darwin worried that the goodness he observed in nature could be the Achilles heel of his theory. Ever since then, scientists and other thinkers have engaged in a fierce debate about the origins of goodness that has dragged politics, philosophy, and religion into what remains a major question for evolutionary biology. The Altruism Equation traces the history of this debate from Darwin to the present through an extraordinary cast of characters-from the Russian prince Petr Kropotkin, who wanted to base society on altruism, to the brilliant biologist George Price, who fell into poverty and succumbed to suicide as he obsessed over the problem. In a final surprising turn, William Hamilton, the scientist who came up with the equation that reduced altruism to the cold language of natural selection, desperately hoped that his theory did not apply to humans. Hamilton's Rule, which states that relatives are worth helping in direct proportion to their blood relatedness, is as fundamental to evolutionary biology as Newton's laws of motion are to physics. But even today, decades after its formulation, Hamilton's Rule is still hotly debated among those who cannot accept that goodness can be explained by a simple mathematical formula. For the first time, Lee Alan Dugatkin brings to life the people, the issues, and the passions that have surrounded the altruism debate. Readers will be swept along by this fast-paced tale of history, biography, and scientific discovery.

Evolutionary Dynamics

Martin A. Nowak
Evolutionary Dynamics Book PDF

Author : Martin A. Nowak
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 390 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2006-09-29
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780674417755

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Evolutionary Dynamics by Martin A. Nowak Pdf

At a time of unprecedented expansion in the life sciences, evolution is the one theory that transcends all of biology. Any observation of a living system must ultimately be interpreted in the context of its evolution. Evolutionary change is the consequence of mutation and natural selection, which are two concepts that can be described by mathematical equations. Evolutionary Dynamics is concerned with these equations of life. In this book, Martin A. Nowak draws on the languages of biology and mathematics to outline the mathematical principles according to which life evolves. His work introduces readers to the powerful yet simple laws that govern the evolution of living systems, no matter how complicated they might seem. Evolution has become a mathematical theory, Nowak suggests, and any idea of an evolutionary process or mechanism should be studied in the context of the mathematical equations of evolutionary dynamics. His book presents a range of analytical tools that can be used to this end: fitness landscapes, mutation matrices, genomic sequence space, random drift, quasispecies, replicators, the Prisoner’s Dilemma, games in finite and infinite populations, evolutionary graph theory, games on grids, evolutionary kaleidoscopes, fractals, and spatial chaos. Nowak then shows how evolutionary dynamics applies to critical real-world problems, including the progression of viral diseases such as AIDS, the virulence of infectious agents, the unpredictable mutations that lead to cancer, the evolution of altruism, and even the evolution of human language. His book makes a clear and compelling case for understanding every living system—and everything that arises as a consequence of living systems—in terms of evolutionary dynamics.

The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins
The Selfish Gene Book PDF

Author : Richard Dawkins
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 372 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 1989
Category : Medical
ISBN : 0192860925

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The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins Pdf

Science need not be dull and bogged down by jargon, as Richard Dawkins proves in this entertaining look at evolution. The themes he takes up are the concepts of altruistic and selfish behaviour; the genetical definition of selfish interest; the evolution of aggressive behaviour; kinshiptheory; sex ratio theory; reciprocal altruism; deceit; and the natural selection of sex differences. 'Should be read, can be read by almost anyone. It describes with great skill a new face of the theory of evolution.' W.D. Hamilton, Science

SuperCooperators

Martin Nowak,Roger Highfield
SuperCooperators Book PDF

Author : Martin Nowak,Roger Highfield
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 354 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2012-03-27
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781451626636

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SuperCooperators by Martin Nowak,Roger Highfield Pdf

Looks at the importance of cooperation in human beings and in nature, arguing that this social tool is as important an aspect of evolution as mutation and natural selection.

Evolution and the Levels of Selection

Samir Okasha
Evolution and the Levels of Selection Book PDF

Author : Samir Okasha
Publisher : Clarendon Press
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2006-11-16
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191533211

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Evolution and the Levels of Selection by Samir Okasha Pdf

Does natural selection act primarily on individual organisms, on groups, on genes, or on whole species? Samir Okasha provides a comprehensive analysis of the debate in evolutionary biology over the levels of selection, focusing on conceptual, philosophical and foundational questions. A systematic framework is developed for thinking about natural selection acting at multiple levels of the biological hierarchy; the framework is then used to help resolve outstanding issues. Considerable attention is paid to the concept of causality as it relates to the levels of selection, in particular the idea that natural selection at one hierarchical level can have effects that 'filter' up or down to other levels. Unlike previous work in this area by philosophers of science, full account is taken of the recent biological literature on 'major evolutionary transitions' and the recent resurgence of interest in multi-level selection theory among biologists. Other biological topics discussed include Price's equation, kin and group selection, the gene's eye view, evolutionary game theory, outlaws and selfish genetic elements, species and clade selection, and the evolution of individuality. Philosophical topics discussed include reductionism and holism, causation and correlation, the nature of hierarchical organization, and realism and pluralism.

Does Altruism Exist?

David Sloan Wilson
Does Altruism Exist Book PDF

Author : David Sloan Wilson
Publisher : Yale University Press
Page : 190 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2015-01-01
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780300189490

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Does Altruism Exist? by David Sloan Wilson Pdf

Argues that altruism is an inherent factor of group functionality and discusses how studying group function can promote positive changes to the human condition.

Extraterrestrial Altruism

Douglas A. Vakoch
Extraterrestrial Altruism Book PDF

Author : Douglas A. Vakoch
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 325 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 2013-09-14
Category : Science
ISBN : 9783642377501

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Extraterrestrial Altruism by Douglas A. Vakoch Pdf

Extraterrestrial Altruism examines a basic assumption of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI): that extraterrestrials will be transmitting messages to us for our benefit. This question of whether extraterrestrials will be altruistic has become increasingly important in recent years as SETI scientists have begun contemplating transmissions from Earth to make contact. Technological civilizations that transmit signals for the benefit of others, but with no immediate gain for themselves, certainly seem to be altruistic. But does this make biological sense? Should we expect altruism to evolve throughout the cosmos, or is this only wishful thinking? Is it dangerous to send messages to other worlds, as Stephen Hawking has suggested, or might humankind benefit from an exchange with intelligence elsewhere in the galaxy? Would extraterrestrial societies be based on different ethical principles, or would we see commonalities with Earthly notions of morality? Extraterrestrial Altruism explores these and related questions about the motivations of civilizations beyond Earth, providing new insights that are critical for SETI. Chapters are authored by leading scholars from diverse disciplines—anthropology, astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, cosmology, engineering, history of science, law, philosophy, psychology, public policy, and sociology. The book is carefully edited by Douglas Vakoch, Director of Interstellar Message Composition at the SETI Institute and professor of clinical psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. The Foreword is by Frank Drake. This interdisciplinary book will benefit everybody trying to understand whether evolution and ethics are unique to Earth, or whether they are built into the fabric of the universe.

Altruism, Morality, and Economic Theory

Edmund S. Phelps
Altruism Morality and Economic Theory Book PDF

Author : Edmund S. Phelps
Publisher : Russell Sage Foundation
Page : 243 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 1975-05-21
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781610446792

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Altruism, Morality, and Economic Theory by Edmund S. Phelps Pdf

Presents a collection of papers by economists theorizing on the roles of altruism and morality versus self-interest in the shaping of human behavior and institutions. Specifically, the authors examine why some persons behave in an altruistic way without any apparent reward, thus defying the economist's model of utility maximization. The chapters are accompanied by commentaries from representatives of other disciplines, including law and philosophy.

The Evolution of Cooperation

Robert Axelrod
The Evolution of Cooperation Book PDF

Author : Robert Axelrod
Publisher : Basic Books
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2009-04-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780786734887

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The Evolution of Cooperation by Robert Axelrod Pdf

A famed political scientist's classic argument for a more cooperative world We assume that, in a world ruled by natural selection, selfishness pays. So why cooperate? In The Evolution of Cooperation, political scientist Robert Axelrod seeks to answer this question. In 1980, he organized the famed Computer Prisoners Dilemma Tournament, which sought to find the optimal strategy for survival in a particular game. Over and over, the simplest strategy, a cooperative program called Tit for Tat, shut out the competition. In other words, cooperation, not unfettered competition, turns out to be our best chance for survival. A vital book for leaders and decision makers, The Evolution of Cooperation reveals how cooperative principles help us think better about everything from military strategy, to political elections, to family dynamics.

Why Evolution is True

Jerry A. Coyne
Why Evolution is True Book PDF

Author : Jerry A. Coyne
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 42,8 Mb
Release : 2010-01-14
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780191643842

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Why Evolution is True by Jerry A. Coyne Pdf

For all the discussion in the media about creationism and 'Intelligent Design', virtually nothing has been said about the evidence in question - the evidence for evolution by natural selection. Yet, as this succinct and important book shows, that evidence is vast, varied, and magnificent, and drawn from many disparate fields of science. The very latest research is uncovering a stream of evidence revealing evolution in action - from the actual observation of a species splitting into two, to new fossil discoveries, to the deciphering of the evidence stored in our genome. Why Evolution is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, palaeontology, geology, molecular biology, anatomy, and development to demonstrate the 'indelible stamp' of the processes first proposed by Darwin. It is a crisp, lucid, and accessible statement that will leave no one with an open mind in any doubt about the truth of evolution.

Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Douglas A. Vakoch
Altruism in Cross Cultural Perspective Book PDF

Author : Douglas A. Vakoch
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2013-05-16
Category : Psychology
ISBN : 9781461469520

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Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective by Douglas A. Vakoch Pdf

Altruism in Cross-Cultural Perspective provides such a scholarly overview, examining the intersection of culture and such topics as evolutionary accounts of altruism and the importance of altruism in ritual and religion. ​​The past decade has seen a proliferation of research on altruism, made possible in part by significant funding from organizations such as the John Templeton Foundation. While significant research has been conducted on biological, social, and individual dimensions of altruism, there has been no attempt to provide an overview of the ways that altruistic behavior and attitudes vary across cultures. The book addresses the methodological challenges of researching altruism across cultures, as well as the ways that altruism is manifest in difficult circumstances. A particular strength of the book is its attention to multiple disciplinary approaches to understanding altruism, with contributors from fields including psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology, communication, philosophy, religious studies, gender studies, and bioethics.​

The Evolution-Creation Struggle

Michael RUSE,Michael Ruse
The Evolution Creation Struggle Book PDF

Author : Michael RUSE,Michael Ruse
Publisher : Harvard University Press
Page : 336 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2009-06-30
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780674042971

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The Evolution-Creation Struggle by Michael RUSE,Michael Ruse Pdf

In his latest book, Ruse uncovers surprising similarities between evolutionist and creationist thinking. Exploring the underlying philosophical commitments of evolutionists, he reveals that those most hostile to religion are just as evangelical as their fundamentalist opponents. But more crucially, and reaching beyond the biblical issues at stake, he demonstrates that these two diametrically opposed ideologies have, since the Enlightenment, engaged in a struggle for the privilege of defining human origins, moral values, and the nature of reality.

The Economics of Reciprocity, Giving and Altruism

NA NA
The Economics of Reciprocity Giving and Altruism Book PDF

Author : NA NA
Publisher : Springer
Page : 387 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2019-06-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781349627455

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The Economics of Reciprocity, Giving and Altruism by NA NA Pdf

Reciprocity is a pervasive type of social interaction in encounters, groups and organizations. This volume gathers basic recent works in its main domains such as the theory of reciprocity, the public economics of transfers, the economics of the family, charities, gifts of organs, or the motivations for gift-giving. The book constitutes a landmark in this rapidly expanding field of research.