De rol van eigenbelang in menselijke generositeit

Summary The role of self-interest in human generosity How are altruism and self-interest linked in human generosity? The origins of generosity are explored by combining biological, anthropological and sociological evidence. Reciprocity proves to be a major factor in explaining the evolution of cooperation and altruism, both in animals and in human beings. Empirical research shows that human generosity is selective: kin and close relatives are favoured over others. Moreover, generosity generates its own rewards and is therefore again selective: the more you give, the more you receive. By making a distinction between ‘ultimate’ and ‘proximate’ explanations, the link between altruism and self-interest in generosity is clarified.