Radiolab The Good Show
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Dec 19, 2025 
Carl Zimmer, a science journalist specializing in evolutionary biology, and Robert Axelrod, a political scientist known for his work on game theory, delve into the fascinating complexities of altruism and cooperation. They explore whether selflessness truly exists or is merely a form of strategic self-interest. Axelrod shares insights from his research on the Prisoner's Dilemma, revealing how tit-for-tat strategies may explain the dynamics of cooperation. Together, they challenge the notion that evolution is solely about competition, proposing a deeper understanding of human kindness.
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Altruism Is A Deep Evolutionary Puzzle
- Altruism appears widespread across life, from amoebas to mammals, challenging a purely selfish view of evolution.
- Darwin called this the greatest riddle because helping others seems to reduce individual fitness yet persists in nature.
Math Showed Altruism Masks Self-Interest
- George Price derived a formal equation showing how altruistic traits could evolve but concluded altruism would always mask self-interest.
- That mathematical result deeply disturbed him and motivated a radical personal experiment in giving.
George Price's Radical Altruism Experiment
- George Price quit his professional life and gave away his possessions to homeless people to prove genuine selflessness could exist.
- He ultimately ran out of money, lived in squats, and tragically ended his life by suicide.