Why should we love love beyond what is necessary for gene survival?

[rybak303]

If mankind is nothing more than an animal like any other animal and our sole purpose is to propagate our genes then what value do love, compassion, and forgiveness have in themselves other than helping propagate our genes? Why should we value or perform them other than what is absolutely necessary to propagate our genes? Is it possible to have too much love, compassion, and forgiveness which would simply be a waste if not an impediment on our sole purpose of existence as defined by nature, which after all is all that there is?

[Edwardo Piet]

Empathy and caring for others have evolutionary benefits. Looking after children for example, and being loyal to friends have evolutionary benefits because back in prehistoric times especially, it is important that people stand together as a group as that is where our strength as humans rise.

And helping complete strangers that aren't even part of the 'in group' I would say is a misfiring evolutionary by-product from the genes of genuine beneficial caring for the 'in-group'. A pleasant misfiring by-product though

And going further than that, culture then adds on top of genetic morality so it becomes not just evolution of genetic morals, but also memetic morals, the moral Zeitgeist. Morals that come from culture. Ethics in other words.