| | Jim,
It's true that, in the animal world, there is no such thing as an unreciprocating, non-kin altruism.
But, with the advent of 'modern' philosophy -- e.g., Kant, Hegel, Comte (who coined the term: 'altruism'), and Marx -- altruism can now exist among men; though it's always dependent, actually parasitic, on some agents acting in their rational self-interest. Here are the necessary ingredients for altruism among men.
1) Wealth has to first be built up (by independent, rational agents)
2) Esteem has to be brought down (by a philosophy espousing the idea that you don't even have the right to exist for your own sake)
3) A critical mass has to philosophically buy-in to the "no right to be here" notion (i.e., that it's solely the need of others that justifies your life on earth)
If any of these steps are missed, then altruism won't ensue. Unfortunately, in the 20th Century, none of these steps were missed -- and we had over 100 million unnecessarily-premature deaths. This history of deaths (from an adopted altruistic ethics) runs roughshod over any sociobiological data you can muster to the contrary. In this last century, philosophy has trumped biology as the main determinate factor dictating the kinds of lives men lead.
Have I answered your question adequately?
;-)
Ed
(Edited by Ed Thompson on 4/23, 10:39pm)
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