The Natural History of Compassion
November 10, 2015
The Natural History of Compassion
A fossil site in Georgia hints at the evolution of kindness.
by Paul Salopek
Dmanisi archaeological site, Georgia, 41°20'15" N, 44°20'40" E
The oldest hominins ever found outside of Africa were unearthed atop a rocky promontory in the Republic of Georgia, in the lush southern Caucasus. Their bones lay—gnawed on, in some cases, by giant prehistoric hyenas—beneath a medieval town. Under mossy ruins that include a church and a fortress. Under a cross. Under the sword.
I think about this primordial contrast in human aspiration while walking the Dmanisi archaeological site. When I hold the fossils in my hand, I can’t help but stare at my hand. Are we good? Shall I drink your blood?
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The Dmanisi, Georgia, early humans site—holding evidence of the earliest clues to altruism—is crowned by a medieval church and fortress. Photograph by Paul Salopek
The earliest clues to altruism have been found at Dmanisi, a site crowned by a medieval church and fortress. Photograph by Paul Salopek
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fundamental tenet of Darwinian theory dictates that we should all behave like louts.
Why?
At its most basic level, “survival of the fittest” holds that any individual whose DNA gets replicated most within a population wins the evolutionary lottery. It doesn’t matter one whit how: Morality isn’t biology. Indeed, selfishness is rewarded. Cheating or violence is fine. Thus, a rogue who only looks out for Number One—who hogs the meager food supply, who never takes a risk to help a stranger, who kills competitors, who uses deception to sleep with others’ mates—would, in theory, survive longest and produce the most babies. He or she would become a gold medalist in the genetic Olympics.
And yet, we are not venal thugs. At least, not all the time. We grapple with our self-centered natures. We surrender seats to old ladies in buses (even when they aren’t our grandmothers). We endow hospitals and plink coins into beggars’ cups. Occasionally, we even lay down our lives for the weak, vulnerable, and downtrodden. For scientists this behavior is mystifying.
More:
http://outofedenwalk.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/10/the-natural-history-of-compassion/