Re: Why Compassion?
Why do you think it came after consciousness? Baboons and other animals will often adopt an orfaned child, with no relation to it and seemingly nothing to gain from it. Mercy is similar. Dominance struggles can be really vicious but the loser is usually spared when it surrenders (wolves presenting a vulnerable area like the neck or belly, for instance). Keeps the population from being decimated after every small argument.
|