Charity is uppermost in the brain | Guardian Unlimited
“Neuroscientists have found the brain’s charity spot: a region that determines whether we put others before ourselves.
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Science has grappled with why people will put the welfare of others ahead of their own, even at personal cost. From an evolutionary viewpoint it makes little sense because it does not increase the chances of someone passing on their genes.”
I find the following quote very interesting because it ties in with the philosophical view that true altruism does not exist. In other words, perceived altruism is a result of the positive emotions we receive as a result of ‘doing good’ or it is the result of wanting to appear, even if subconsciously, charitable to the world. To be the bigger person as it were.
“The researchers suggest altruistic behaviour comes from the way people view the world rather than how they behave themselves.”
