Altruism across disciplines: one word, multiple meanings

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_2B08656EC9B5
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Altruism across disciplines: one word, multiple meanings
Journal
Biology and Philosophy
Author(s)
Clavien C., Chapuisat M.
ISSN
0169-3867
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2013
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
28
Number
1
Pages
125-140
Language
english
Abstract
Altruism is a deep and complex phenomenon that is analysed by scholars of various disciplines, including psychology, philosophy, biology, evolutionary anthropology and experimental economics. Much confusion arises in current literature because the term altruism covers variable concepts and processes across disciplines. Here we investigate the sense given to altruism when used in different fields and argumentative contexts. We argue that four distinct but related concepts need to be distinguished: (a) psychological altruism, the genuine motivation to improve others' interests and welfare; (b) reproductive altruism, which involves increasing others' chances of survival and reproduction at the actor's expense; (c) behavioural altruism, which involves bearing some cost in the interest of others; and (d) preference altruism, which is a preference for others' interests. We show how this conceptual clarification permits the identification of overstated claims that stem from an imprecise use of terminology. Distinguishing these four types of altruism will help to solve rhetorical conflicts that currently undermine the interdisciplinary debate about human altruism.
Keywords
Reproductive altruism, Psychological altruism, Behavioural altruism, Preference altruism, Experimental economics, Evolutionary anthropology
Web of science
Create date
12/03/2012 15:54
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:10
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