title: A history of altruism focusing on Darwin, Allee and E.O. Wilson.
abstract: The problem of altruism refers to the apparent difficulty in reconciling the existence of altruists, individuals who reduce their own fitness to increase the fitness of others, with natural selection. A historical and philosophical overview of solutions to this apparent contradiction is presented through a close reading of the key texts of Charles Darwin, Warder C. Allee and Edward O. Wilson. Following an analysis of Darwin's explanation for altruism, I examine the ideas of group selection and kin selection advanced by Allee and Wilson, respectively, Attention is also given to the philosophical implications each associated with their respective solutions.
authors: Waseda University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Building 51, Room 4-11B, Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan. domondon@aoni.waseda.jp
authors: Andrew T
authors: AT
authors: Domondon
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D019021:Natural History / Q000266:history*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012917:Social Adjustment