The Good Samaritan and His Genes
— Clayton, Schloss, Evolution and Ethics 2004

"The Good Samaritan and His Genes," pages 238-252 in Philip Clayton and Jeffrey Schloss, eds., Evolution and Ethics: Human Morality in Biological and Religious Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004.

Online at: http://hdl.handle.net/10217/37322

The Good Samaritan helping non-genetically related other does not fit well into a Darwinian framework. Some biologists claim he is constitutionally (=genetically) unable to act for the victim's sake. There must be a self-interested account. The Samaritan, deceived about his motives, is rewarded with reproductively profitable reputation. But such behavior, praised and imitated, jumps genetic lines and there is no differential survival advantage.

"Rolston - The Good Samaritan and his Genes." 2002. Audio CD. 1 hour, 12 mins. Holmes Rolston lecture at a conference on Biology and Morality, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.