In this blog post, we’ll examine why altruistic behaviors—which seem evolutionarily disadvantageous—have persisted to this day, using the costly signaling hypothesis. Why Do Altruistic Behaviors Persist? We often hear news stories about people who, despite an announcement that a subway train is about to arrive, jump onto the tracks without hesitation to rescue someone who has fallen...
Why do altruistic people exist? What does the “costly signaling” hypothesis suggest as the reason?
In this blog post, we’ll examine how altruistic behavior has been maintained throughout the course of evolution, focusing on the “costly signaling” hypothesis. Altruistic Behavior and the Costly Signaling Hypothesis In our daily lives, we often see people helping others—whether by voluntarily donating to support neighbors in need, giving blood and dedicating their time, or willingly...
Are animal experiments an absolutely necessary procedure for human safety?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the necessity, ethical issues, and scientific validity of animal experiments used in the development of pharmaceuticals and various products, as well as potential alternatives to animal testing. Are Animal Tests Really Necessary? With advances in medical technology today, vaccines have been developed to prevent various infectious diseases such as polio...
Why Is the Issue of Private Seating in Study Rooms Related to the Ethical Consciousness of Engineers?
In this blog post, I will examine the issue of private seating in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering’s study room from the perspectives of the study room’s purpose, utilitarianism, and equality, and through this, reflect on what kind of ethical consciousness is necessary for engineers. Why does the problem of seat hoarding in the study room keep recurring? On November...
How did doping testing become the science behind fair sports?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the history of doping, the effects of banned substances, the scientific principles behind doping tests, and the emergence of new doping techniques designed to evade detection. Why has doping become a problem in sports? The article “The Bowed-Head ‘Marine Boy’ and the Temptation of Steroids” in ‘Science Dong-A’ addresses the controversy...
Is it valid to apply game theory to Dawkins’s theory of reciprocal altruism?
In this blog post, I will examine the explanation of reciprocal altruism presented in ‘The Selfish Gene’ from the perspectives of the theory of the selfish gene and game theory, and I will critically review the implications and limitations of applying evolutionary game theory to biological behavior in nature. Explaining Reciprocal Altruism in Animals Through the Theory of the...
Can Dawkins’ theory of kin selection explain all altruistic behavior in animals?
In this blog post, I will examine the theory of kin selection as explained by Richard Dawkins in ‘The Selfish Gene’, and explore altruistic and selective behaviors in animals—which are difficult to explain solely through kinship—from the perspectives of environmental factors and social interactions. Introduction Richard Dawkins’ ‘The Selfish Gene’ explains the...
Is Dawkins’ Explanation of Human Behavior Appropriate? — Focusing on Memes
In this blog post, I will examine the concept of “memes” proposed by Richard Dawkins to explain human behavior and culture, and explore the potential and limitations of memes as a framework for explaining human culture and behavior. How Can Memes Explain Human Behavior? Ever since the emergence of culture, humanity has continuously worshiped something in the form of primitive religions...
The Lifeblood of a City: What Determines the Size of Roads?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the role of roads—which function like the blood vessels of a city—and explore how road scale and the number of lanes are determined based on traffic volume. Roads are like the lifeblood of a city. Just as oxygen, nutrients, and waste products travel through our blood vessels, the movement of goods and people in a city occurs via roads, and urban...
Why do cities exist? From the perspective of urban economics, what is the reason for a city’s existence?
In this blog post, we’ll examine why cities form and grow from the perspective of urban economics, and explore how factors such as the efficiency of trade and production, economies of scale, and the Industrial Revolution have shaped today’s major cities. What Is a City? Today, people around the world live in “cities”—political, economic, and cultural hubs ranging from major metropolises...