Nem said:
Both are chemical hormonic processes, might even be the same one. They compel you to protect the weak and the young and coopertation in society to increase survival. Any more questions? You gonna tell me God is magically pushing hormones to make that happen? |
To build up on your hormones argument, there are studies that look into the relationship between hormones and empathy. For instance, this study shows that oxytocin reinforces emotional empathy. The hormone also improves learning in a social environment. There's also another study that shows that there is some genetic basis for altruism, particularly the genes that code for oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. My guess for how altruism and emphathy evolved in mammals is that the "altruism" and "empathy" genes first evolved from mutation and genetic variation. Those genes get selected for because they prove to be advantageous for the population, i.e. improving the population's fitness (natural selection). If those genes were detrimental to the survival of the population, then they would not exist.
