Great article.

Altruism evolved just like many other traits because it has a survival benefit. This benefit can be either to the group and species or to the individual.

This is definitely an interesting way to look at it and something I think many people won't look at because it is in many ways an uncomfortable truth.

It is much better to assume (on a conscious level) that we are all saintly characters acting for a greater good.

In some ways we have to tell ourselves these sorts of things to avoid potential dissonance.

The only thing being different between the two is the narrative for each story.

Reminds me of a quote I heard someone say (may even have been in a movie) - "We are all the hero in our own story."

There are thousands of children dying everyday from hunger and other diseases but we all choose to raise own kids because it ensures our own genetic fitness.

Yes that is definitely part of it but we can also forget about those other children more easily because they are not in our direct social group.

We just like to camouflage the idea beneath an altruistic facade.

Probably very true. I say probably because I'm still trying to hang on to the belief that there is some greater good lol!

Another great post. I hope it gets the attention it deserves because it is a fascinating topic for discussion.