General > Biology

Natural Selection as an abstraction for game theory

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Light:
When I was talking about genetic relatives I was being slightly confusing in that I meant blood relatives, parents children, uncles, cousins etc. I wasn't trying to say that altruism only happens between blood relatives just that it is more likely.

Sprotiel:

--- Quote from: Jez ---Light; members of a species are closely genetically related, they wouldn't be a species otherwise. I understand your point but that wouldn't stop me, theoretically, rescuing a child about to be killed at the cost of my life, because they weren't directly related. Altruistic moments often aren't preceeded by consideration of genetic diversity or DNA analysis. Consider the person rescuing the cat/dog from being hit by a car.
--- End quote ---
Human behaviour isn't genetically constrained, so you can't easily compare it with biological examples.

Jez:

--- Quote from: Sprotiel ---You've clearly misunderstood Numsgil's point here. Germany didn't reproduce (well, you could say it did, since there used to be 2 Germanies, but one died...), it's the Germans that did. Similarly, I haven't reproduced yet (= I don't have children), but I'd be dead by now if all my cells had stopped reproducing at some point.
--- End quote ---
I'm not talking about the country per se, more the poputation of a country. that that makes a country is its population.
Geographical boundaries are defined by (the cultural definitions of) the population.
I haven't any children, if the populace of my country (England) didn't have any children either then England as a nation would disapear (baring imigration or DBs repopulation of dead bots).
When your cells stop reproducing you will be dead, it's one of those things to look forward too.  

Jez:
I agree Light;

You are more likely to rescue your child that is trapped beneath a car than someone elses. My perception of altruism is slight larger. Anyone (of a decent/alturistic nature) will try to rescue anyone elses child trapped under a car. (+some cross species baby theory I can't remember atm).

Sprotiel;

If we are not genetically constrained (our mind is an evolution of our genetics AFAIK) then what are we constrained by? I thought we were biological entities therefore it is natural to assume that our makeup defines our existance and actions.

Light:
I think a lot of it depends on the level of risk to the person being altruistic against how much the other person means to them, as to whether someone does an altruistic act or not, but its probably more of a sub conciesous thought process

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