Hamilton's breakthrough in explaining altruism from a biological perspective
A) rested on his taking into account the viewpoint of the genotype rather than that of the organism.
B) involved the argument that natural selection favours personal fitness.
C) is based on the idea that altruistic acts are just as often aimed at friends and acquaintances as they are at relatives.
D) rests on the principle of reciprocation.
E) is based on the argument that altruists will have greater reproductive success.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hamilton's key contribution to explaining altruism biologically was the concept of inclusive fitness, which focuses on the genetic perspective (genotype) rather than the individual organism's perspective. This approach explains how genes promoting altruistic behavior towards relatives can spread through populations, as relatives share genes.

Hamilton's Breakthrough in Explaining Altruism from a Biological Perspective