Altruism, Magnanimity, Selflessness, They Are All Not Happening

In this Chapter Dawkins proposes several theories on the evolution of species and how animals such as ants and birds have developed as societies. In every example of the animal kingdom Dawkins cleverly proved his point and defended his selfish gene theory. For instance, when certain organism give alarm calls to the rest of the group, the theory states “genes have to come up with a convincing advantage of giving alarm calls which is big enough to counteract this danger (of being spotted and eaten by the predator)” (169). In every case presented the theory was proven right and apparently nature has no space for self-sacrificing beings, at least not if they intend to transmit their genetic information. After all what would a survival machine be for if it willingly sacrifices itself for the benefit of another.

            As the chapter develops Dawkins presents a complex situation that may serve as a starting point for our capacities to deceive. In Dawkins scenario, a population is composed a species that behaves in three distinct patters: indiscriminant helpers, those who get help but don’t help back and those who help everyone except those who denied them help. The first are called Suckers, the latter Cheaters and the last Grudgers. It is very easy to compare these behaviors with our daily life where we meet many people who get our help, but do not help us when we need it or not as much as we expected they would. In fact, it relates very closely to our society where very commonly partnerships do not work, since one partner may be doing everything while the other does nothing. In the real world that can be a problem if it gets known you “cheat” on those who help you, or you simply never work. It is the hard workers who know who to work and avoid being “cheated”, who ideally should succeed the most. At least, that is how it works in nature or how it did with the Suckers, the Cheaters and the Grudges. The first died exploited by the Cheaters who never paid their favors, yet when the Cheaters no longer had their naïve relatives around Grudgers refused to help and eventually Cheaters got extinct as well. Ultimately, in nature it is no use being indiscriminately altruistic, or indiscriminately selfish. Because the Grudges are selfish nonetheless, as they feel the necessity to remove a poisonous parasite in the future, in Dawkins specific scenario, is more important than the energy they waste helping a “partner” who has it at the present time. It is all a cost versus gain relationship. The genes will always thrive for the most gain at the least expense to propagate themselves. That’s what all “the selfish gene theory” is about.

     Moreover, Dawkins defines the relationship employed by Grudgers, and other organisms such as cleaner fish with other big fish as symbiosis. A relationship where two species or two organisms from the same species benefit mutually, or reciprocal altruism as explained in the above paragraph. Dawkins explains that possibly our brains’ complexity revolves around the idea of symbiotic relationships. That feelings like “envy, gratitude, guilt, sympathy” came from natural selection to avoid being cheated, cheat more effectively or not to be confused with a cheat (188). This hypothesis implies many things, one of the most impacting ones is that ultimately our brain’s great processing is: without being cheated, to cheat as much as possible and without being caught cheating. So as cheaters got more effective, so did Grudgers at recognizing them; hence slowly each organism got more sophisticated at getting the most out of reciprocal altruism. This hypothesis contradicts the “ideal society” proposal or that of a good community, where everyone knows that may help everyone without getting cheated. However, someone always takes advantage of what will be called today “Suckers”, yet if no altruism exists inevitably our societies will collapse. If trust cannot be developed in things as sensitive as representation then a country may not function well, if reciprocal altruism does not exist then the whole structure on which we live cannot function properly. For instance, a President has the responsibility to meet his country’s needs if he takes advantage of his power to enrich himself then the country won’t progress. Resulting in the overall detriment of the community; altruism or at least reciprocal altruism are essential to the survival of our species.