Why do people risk their own lives to save a stranger? Why do we share food or give money to charity? The human capacity for altruism has been a puzzle for scientists since Darwin. In this episode of Origin Stories, primatologist Joan Silk explores the evolution of altruism and cooperation.
In our Being Human Bonus segment, we share a story of human kindness from Erika Lantz and WBUR’s Kind World.
Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation. You can support this show and the science we talk about by making a tax-deductible donation. Your donation will be doubled thanks to an anonymous altruistic sponsor! Give today at http://www.leakeyfoundation.org/donate
Links
Learn more about Joan Silk and her research at http://www.joansilk.com.
Being Human http://www.beinghuman.org
Kind World http://www.wbur.org/kindworld
Adept Word Management http://www.adeptwordmanagement.com
Credits
Produced by Meredith Johnson
Edited by Julia Barton
Theme music by Henry Nagle
Production help from Susan Valot
Additional music by Podington Bear, Lee Rosevere, and Alex Fitch
