Semi Selfless

In the fisrt part of chapter 10 of The Selfish Gene, Dawkins begins to explain how organisms are selfish while among themselves. Packs of wolves, schools of fish, flocks of birds are all actions that animals accept and are part of, but only because there is something in it for them. The advantages provided by physics, such as hydrodynamics from the turbulence the fish infront creates. Dawkins says this is the true reason for the schooling, not that they are the same species and a family. Apparently there does exist some behaviours that radiate selflessness. Birds call to their kin, to warn them about the threat the predator poses. This can save them, while risking his life, for by calling, he is calling attention to himself rather than to some other individual.

A domain of danger is "the area of ground in which any point is nearer to an individual than it is to any other individual"(Pg. 167). In order to survive we must make ourselves safe by making others more vulnerable. They serve as our shield, and if we "migrate" intelligently, we will succeed. Apparently there does exist some behaviours that radiate selflessness. Birds call to their kin, to warn them about the threat the predator poses. This can save them, while risking his life, for by calling, he is calling attention to himself rather than to some other individual. This however doesn't come with no benefit to the caller. In order to assure a greater chance of survivla in the face of predators, one must make sure that it is not only oneself, but anyone that ruins that. You can't play hide and seek with someone that when hiding will make noise and aqnd let the seeker know your hiding place. In that case you would both be perjudiced. This is the cave theory (Pg. 169).

The never break ranks theory explains that we do indeed need our group, flock, school or crowd. We do not want to be spotted by the predator alone. If you are gonna warn your group, you must make sure that every one gets the message and so you will all proceed as a group where migrating inward will be easier. The bigger the group you are part of, the safer you are.

Aggregations: Formations where anmals place themselves together in order to avoid their domain of danger from increasing.