The Altruism Trick
(Top Posts - Science - 102500)

Excerpt from chapter 13 of "The Meme Machine", by
Susan Blackmore:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0198503652

"... A religion which persuades its followers to be more
altruistic will spread because of the altruism trick. I was
once cycling in a park in Bristol when my bicycle chain
fell off. Before I could jump off to put it back two young
men raced up to me, politely offered help, expertly put
the chain back on, and stood smiling kindly at me. 'Thank
you ver much', I said, feeling a little bewildered. For I had
never seen them before and I was not a ravishing sight in
my Felix-the-cat bike helmet.

God was soon on their lips, quickly followed by Joseph
Smith and Salt Lake City. The Mormon faith is ably and
deliberately spread by the altruism trick. It doesn't work
on everyone, but it works well enough to keep the memes
alive.

The altruism trick works like this. Take a political party,
a religious sect, a cult, a local benevolent society, or any
complex belief system. Incorporate within it the idea that
its followers should do good work. These good works
will then make the followers more likeable and so people
will copy them--copying in the process all the other memes
in the belief system. ..."

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

One comment: I, myself, have been seduced into the altruism
trick, one trick of many used by people to enhance their
particular position -or- to enhance the position of a particular
idea (meme). Calling altruism a "trick" does not mean that the
idea of altruism or the idea being spread through altruism is
necessarily a bad idea, it merely means you should consider
the actual merits (truth or falsehood) of the idea before
accepting it merely because altruism is involved. Hence,
skepticism regarding religion should note that it matters not
what gifts are offered (in this life or the next), what matters
is the truth.

Likewise, skepticism regarding my idea of holding on to hope
for a pleasant continued existence (free of religiosity) should
be very high despite the temptation to hold on to hope merely
because it sounds like a good idea. Hope is true but as for the
reality of a continued pleasant existence, that's highly unlikely.

Still, there's hope (my altruistic training must have been very
strong), free of guilt, myth, manipulation, or requirement for
any acts or beliefs to "earn" a continued pleasant existence,
which either is or isn't, after all. Heck, since I'm altruistic
free of guilt or obligations (regarding a continued pleasant
existence), how can I resist?

(-: