THE SCIENCE OF ALTRUISM

Altruism is the act of sacrificing our own interest for the purpose of other animal or group of
animals. There were contradictory arguments in both passage and the lecture. The passage gives a
positive definition to Altruism. The behavior of Meerkats is given as an example.
In the group of Meerkats, a particular Meerkat act as a sentinel and the other members in the
group hunt for food. And whenever a predator like a hawk attacks the group of Meerkats the Meerkat
which acts as a leader in the group sends an alarm signal so that, the other members in the group get the
signal that they were attacked and they get ready for the attack. In this the sentinel Meerkat has a greater
danger than the group because it has more chance of being attacked. The passage conveys the positive
side of Altruism.
In the lecture the professor explains that the definition for altruism is not selflessness. The
professor gave some examples that, whenever we donate organs to a stranger we actually get appreciation
in return so we become selfish in being appreciated. So the lecture conveys a negative meaning to
Altruism.
In Passage and the lecture we can get the two sides of Altruism.