Man is much more "open to cooperation" than any other living being (except, perhaps, ants). Why don't our selfish instincts suppress our passion for cooperation?
Cooperation is the basis for the development of human society. We share information, together we solve the problems of interstate interaction and organize sports events. How does this happen?
Arunas Radzvilavicius of the University of Pennsylvania believes that the strength that holds us together is empathy, the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of another. Radzivilavicius is sure: if a person were to assess the situation and the benefits that can be derived from it, relying solely on their feelings and social attitudes, we would remain in the Stone Age.
The scientist confirms his words with the results of computer modeling. Radzvilavičius developed several mathematical models of the human community and created an algorithm based on them. The virtual members of this community could choose between selfish and altruistic behaviors based on hypothetical benefits.
And as it turned out, if only the introduction of a “variable of empathy” into these models allowed to maintain cooperation within communities at the level that is necessary for the development of civilization. And social attitudes alone are not enough for this.
