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Due: Monday, May 6. Papers accepted without penalty until 5:00pm. Hand-in a carefully crafted, typewritten, double-spaced, 800 word paper on the following topic. (about 250-300 words per page with 12 point type, 1” margins.)
Topic: Evolutionary psychologists argue that there are only two reasons why altruistic behavior could have evolved as an adaptation in human beings. Either altruism is directed only at those you expect to encounter again (reciprocal altruism) or it is directed only at those to whom you are related (kin selection). If these are the only reasons why altruistic behavior could have evolved, does it follow that we have no ethical or moral responsibility to help people, for example those in other countries, whom we have never met and to whom we are not related? Why or why not?
State clearly in your introductory paragraph whether or not you think that the explanation for altruism provided by evolutionary psychology justifies a lack of concern for people whom we never expect to meet and to whom we are not related.
Provide a brief argument illustrating why altruism seems unlikely to evolve if it is directed towards those whom we are unlikely to meet again and to whom we are unrelated. This part of your paper should be no more than one paragraph (4-5 sentences long).
Provide a detailed argument explaining either (a) why the evolutionary explanation for altruism justifies a lack of concern for those whom we never expect to meet (or meet again) and to whom we are unrelated or (b) why the evolutionary explanation for altruism does not justify this conclusion. In developing your argument you may find it helpful to describe the naturalistic fallacy and to use the strategy for analyzing arguments that Richards illustrates in her book. It is often useful to focus your discussion and analysis on concrete cases.
Provide specific citations for the relevant parts of the Richards book that you use, or any other resources.
How well you follow the instructions above.
Accurate knowledge of the appropriate course material.
Logical strength of your argument. Remember, you are trying to convince the reader to accept your thesis. Your college friends should be able to understand your argument and be impressed with it.
Insight, originality.
Clarity of the writing, logical organization of the paper.
Points will be taken off for too many spelling and grammatical errors.
An “A” paper scores “excellent” on all criteria. A “B” paper is accurate and more or less logically argued, but typically needs more originality and supporting detail.
A “C” paper makes too many inaccurate and unsupported claims, and has too many logical gaps. It’s typically vague.
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