Simulation of evolution

Simulation of evolution | www.agner.org

incomplete modeling
Author:  Date: 2003-04-30 04:56
The issue of altruism vs. egoism, and how to accurately model it to reflect the real world, is one which I find frustrating due to what I percieve as some very basic flaws in the models I have seen to date, including the one I see here. Humans have a very well developed faculty to detect cheaters. Why? Humans have a very strong predisposition to scorn whistle-blowers and tattle-tales and those who are not "team players". Humans are very likely to exert peer pressure on those not conforming to the norm, to "pick on" those who are noticeably different. In short, humans are very strongly disposed to making sure there is conformity and group cohesion and allegiance and no "traitors". In real world terms this means that, for example, a strict egoist moving into an altruistic tribe would not fare well at all. In fact the egoist would be very likely to wind up an outcast or dead within a very short period of time. Neither of which would be an evolutionary advantage.
Since tribes of altruists will prove stronger than tribes that allow even a few egoists, altruism wins. This reflects the real world as well, at least it explains the prevelance of altruistic behavior towards non-kin.
 
thread incomplete modeling - Carmi - 2003-04-30
last replythread incomplete modeling new - A Fog - 2003-04-30
last replythread incomplete modeling new - Carmi Turchick - 2003-05-03
last replythread incomplete modeling new - A Fog - 2003-05-03
last replythread incomplete modeling new - carmi turchick - 2003-05-06
last replythread incomplete modeling new - A Fog - 2003-05-06
last reply incomplete modeling new - Carmi Turchick - 2003-05-07