CoreCownexions

This article in the New York Times talks about a book written by a psychologist at UVa. His theory is that "morality" is genetically driven, that it is part of how we have evolved as humans. I wonder about how this works for individuals versus for the community. Darwin says:

IT must not be forgotten that although a high standard of morality gives but a slight advantage to each individual man and his children over the other men of the same tribe, ... There can be no doubt that a tribe including many members who...were always ready to give aid to each other and to sacrifice themselves for the common good, would be victorious over other tribes; and this would be natural selection." (246)

Yet we think of morality as an individual thing, good for our souls. The article says that perhaps that is what religion does for humans--causes them to behave in ways that are actually better for the common good than for individual gain.