actually, Chuck, yes the passing on of the genes, after considering all probabilities, is likely to be selfish. But I was talking about behaviours that undermine one individual's survival, you moved back and forth between these 2, do you mean no such behaviours exist if it decreases the chance of this individual's gene being passed on? But you must also take into consideration that if one doesn't engage in these behaviours, one can survive and pass on 1/2 of its genes. Compare that to a situation where this individual sacrifices its own survival, and its genes can only be passed on by relatives, which decreases that to about 1/4 of its genes (more or less).
The mantis is not a good example because it dies in the act of passing on its genes. second example is closer to what I meant. What I would call altruistic behaviours would be things like the mobbing behaviour in birds. And often in prey animals who give out alarm calls to alert others of predators.
It isn't "true altruism" as in completely for someone else with no benefit to self, but these behaviours are favourable. And this sort of behaviours are what tend to be called altruistic in the books i've read.
The mantis is not a good example because it dies in the act of passing on its genes. second example is closer to what I meant. What I would call altruistic behaviours would be things like the mobbing behaviour in birds. And often in prey animals who give out alarm calls to alert others of predators.
It isn't "true altruism" as in completely for someone else with no benefit to self, but these behaviours are favourable. And this sort of behaviours are what tend to be called altruistic in the books i've read.
