Altruism, Evolution, and Morality

Book of the Day: Kindness In A Cruel World: The Evolution Of Altruism, by Nigel Barber. Publisher: Prometheus Books.

Religious critics of atheism and evolution allege that without the guiding force of some god, some supernatural power, there can be no reasonable explanation for the development of altruism and morality. In a purely materialistic and evolutionary nature, critics argue, there is no reason for altruism to exist or for us to be moral - it’s a dog-eat-dog world without the benevolent influence of a god. Superficially, it may sound like they have a point.

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