Cooperation’s Genetic Code

[BridgeTheGap]

The assumption that human beings are inherently selfish—interested in the greater good only when it serves their own interests—has long-influenced capitalism’s most prominent thinkers (Adam Smith, Alan Greenspan, Gordon Gekko) and served as a litmus test for modern America’s so-called political realists. Employees are best motivated with bags of carrots and a big stick. Without law there is no order, and without the threat of punishment there is no law. We’re all out for number one. Greed is good. Dogs eat dogs.

Just turn on the news anytime of the day or night. The anecdotal evidence is overwhelming.

A compelling counter-narrative is emerging, however. In the latest issue of Harvard Business Review, Yochai Benkler points to “recent research in evolutionary biology, psychology, sociology, political science, and experimental economics people behave far less selfishly than most assume.”

“Evolutionary biologists and psychologists have even found neural and, possibly, genetic evidence of a human predisposition to cooperate,” he writes.

Read more: http://www.utne.com/Fighting-Words/Unselfish-Gene-Human-Predisposition-To-Cooperate.aspx#ixzz1VOurvqow

[patrice]

1. This kind of stuff is the beginnning of a national dialogue on the REAL definition of "success". I

especially like it, because it suggests at least the rudiments of concrete rubrics that could be used to identify when that dialogue is authentic. I hope Labor will pick it up as part of developing its own internal strengths.

THANKS! for posting.

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