A Dutch Life

“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”

In the article “Rats influenced by the kindness of strangers” - New Scientist researchers discover evidence that suggests rats have discovered the “Golden  Rule“.

Claudia Rutte and Michael Taborsky of the University of Berne, Switzerland, trained rats to pull a lever that released food for their partner in the next cage. If the rats subsequently received snacks released by lever-pulling strangers in neighbouring cages, they were more likely to lever-pull and so feed another unfamiliar rat in the future. In other words, the rats became altruistic in response to a general level of cooperation in the population.

Now, as soon as they learn to write they can get started on their own set of commandments. 

Interestingly the article starts off by saying:

In doing so, they provide the first evidence of an unusual form of altruism that appears to violate evolutionary theory.

I don’t really follow how this result violates evolutionary theory. If a rat does something altruistic then it knows that it increases its chances of becoming a recipient of altruism. This in turn increases its chances of survival. Perhaps we could clear this up a little by making a small change to evolutionary theory, I’m sure Darwin would be cool with it. Lets add “Survival of the kindest”.

Humans, like you and me, have learnt exactly the same lesson, which is why the ”Golden Rule” is not limited to any single culture or religion, it has emerged universally. You can also see it in phrases like “Pay it forward” and ”What goes around, comes around!” and interesting concepts like “Karma”.

I’m sure there are many, many more, in different languages and different cultures. Anyone have any to contribute?