In the lecture, the
professor made several points about altruism. According to the professor, the
new scientific research raises questions about altruistic acts of both animals
and humans.
The first point
made in the lecture is a new finding about the meerkats eating habit. According
to the professor, a sentinel meerkat eats before standing guard. However, the
reading states that the sentinel sacrifices itself with looking out for
predators while the others are eating or looking for their food.
In addition, the sentinel
meerkat is most likely escape first because it is near the burrow. Moreover,
the sentinel' alarm calls to help other member's escapes actually draw
more attention from predators. As a result, it may result in placing others in
a greater danger. In contrast, the reading contends that the alarm cry helps
others to run and seek shelter.
A final point is about human's donation, which is well known for typical
unselfish acts. According to the professor, organ donors receive appreciation
and approval from the rest of the society, increasing self-worth. This
contradicts with the reading in that people gain nothing for themselves by
sharing food or donating organs to family members or even strangers.
Thank you for your help as always^^