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The Science of Altruism

November 17, 2009

There have been many arguments for and against altruism, or the unselfish concern for the welfare of others.  One more popular rhetoric is that altruism goes against the aphorism of “survival of the fittest”.  Image Hosted by ImageShack.usSo what drives humans and animals to behave altruistically?

This article may just have the answer.

In studies of the brain performed by researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., a link has been found between the desire to “do good” and the functioning of the brain. Long associated with an emotional component, or that “warm fuzzy” feeling one thinks of when contemplating altruistic behavior and being kind to others, the drive to be good may be more cerebral than emotional.

Read full article on Associated Content.

Related reading:
The Evidence for the Evolution of Social Responsibility and a sense of Mutual Obligation in Human Society

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