Humans

We tend to forget humans are also animals, our behaviors are the same as those of your dog or a wild lion. The book describes different gene attitudes: selfishness an survival being the two most important. When talking about them he posts the example of a flock of certain animals on the hunt. One will always be aware of the dangers, but insist on only saving themselves if the predator appears. Most interestingly it will try to reduce their chances of getting caught by trying to evade the edges of the flock. This reminded me of the trip to La Guajira. When time came to choose your chinchorros (traditional Colombian hammocks), everyone would run into the rancheria and get one of the center hammocks. Everybody hated the edges, they were scary for us. Yet this leads plus back to gene behavior of survival and selfishness. If anything were to happen the persons in the corners are more prone to danger than those in the middle. Pure animal instinct.

To prove even more how selfish genes are Dawkins talks about the "cave theory". Before the author even explained this I was wondering how animals like the birds would fit Ito his theory that your own life is more important than the flock, well the bird will sing to alert danger. The cave theory maps out why animals that live in communities tend to alert the rest when danger is near. Due to what the book is about we can predict genes are not generous and courteous and alert for others benefits. Instead they do so to protect themselves once again. If one creature spots the predator he could hide in the grass and act as if nothing was happening. But, " any one of them [the flock] could attract the hawk's attention and then the whole flock is peril." (PG. 169)

I wonder then with all the respect and passion I have for helping others and social service : why do humans do it? Is it cause we have a higher gene conscious that leads us to feeling pity, or did society only invent service to balance everybody. It is not in our genes we are designed for survival.