It is sometimes thought that Darwinian evolution implies that organisms will evolve to be “selfish”, that is, to behave in a way that furthers their own biological interests rather than those of others. However, biologists have long recognized that “altruistic” behaviour is quite common in nature, and have sought to reconcile this finding with evolutionary principles. This talk focuses on the philosophical implications of this classic biological issue, and asks how biologists use of terms such as “altruism” and “selfishness” relate to their vernacular use.
This talk was part of our annual library lecture series prepared in partnership with the Rotman Institute of Philosophy, the Department of Philosophy at Western University, and the London Public Library.
Samir Okasha, University of Bristol
November 5, 2020
