How Natural Selection Can Lead Us to Be More Compassionate

Evolution and the Emergence of Kindness

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels.

“The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings.” — Albert Schweitzer

A common misconception about evolution is that animals are selfish and uncaring. Still, new research has shown that kindness and altruism can be evolutionarily advantageous.

Kindness can evolve through kin selection when animals help those who share their genes. This makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint because by allowing family members, animals are essentially helping to ensure the survival of their genes.

Similarly, reciprocal altruism can also lead to the evolution of kindness. This happens when animals help those with whom they have regular contact. This is beneficial from an evolutionary perspective because it creates a system of mutual benefit. Both parties receive help from the relationship, making it more likely that both will survive and reproduce.

Some animals are inclined to be kind, while others do not. It’s also worth noting th…