The Evolution of Mutual Altruism

It's a good question and it's one that I'm never quite sure about. What happens is we have these basic desires to help out others, instilled in us because of the evolutionary mechanisms of reciprocal altruism and kin selection. We act on those but we also have reason. Sometimes we just are moved by the thought of a stranger a thousand miles away. And maybe that's a quirk of modern life.We've been able to hear personal pleas when you see a GoFundMe of somebody who you don't know - they're going through some very expensive medical treatments if you're in the US. And you're moved by them and so you donate.