Religion
In reply to the discussion: how does atheism/materialism account for [View all]uriel1972
(4,261 posts)People get lost in the concept of the 'selfish gene' and believe it only promotes behaviour we see as selfish. By promoting behaviour that ensures gene survival, all the behaviours described as altruism can be seen.
Even behaviours that seem unrelated such as adoption of children/pets are just expressions of behaviours that evolved to ensure kin survival. The genes don't know about genes, they just do what they do because they evolved to do it.
The behaviours are the result of evolution 'overkill' in order to make sure these behaviours happen. Of course we see a full spectrum of behaviour 'strength' because of normal human variation, so we get people who don't seem loving and altruistic as well.
The feelings we feel are expressions of material connections of the brain that has evolved to protect and ensure gene survival. That's the way I see it. YMMV