Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by pwgentleman 588 days ago
> Fairness is intrinsically human

Is it though? Survival of the fittest doesn't sound particularly fair to me.
1 comments
esarbe 588 days ago
Survival of the fittest is just the circumstances we find ourselves in. Our strategy to survive is cooperation. Human are amazing at cooperation, second only to eusocial insects. Fairness is an important mechanism in organizing this cooperation.

So, yes. Fairness is intrinsically human.

link
pwgentleman 588 days ago
I don't think there's a direct line.

"Might makes right" will also force cooperation from those who are less fortunate. I'd argue there was almost never "fairness" in human relationships, from stronger warriors getting the best food to kings forcing their will upon their subjects to filthy rich individuals owning the greatest part of the world wealth today.

My point is in no way that this is right. Only that humans are not intrinsically fair.

link
esarbe 588 days ago
Research shows that the willingness to incur personal cost to punish unfairness is prevalent in all cultures.

I can dig up the relevant studies if you are interested.

link